1 00:00:01,826 --> 00:00:03,002 - Locked away in a deadly prison... 2 00:00:03,161 --> 00:00:05,996 - It looks majestic. But looks can be deceiving. 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:07,756 - You're dealing with gang members, 4 00:00:07,841 --> 00:00:08,841 you're dealing with rapists, 5 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:10,426 you're dealing with child molesters, 6 00:00:10,510 --> 00:00:11,927 you're dealing with murderers. 7 00:00:12,012 --> 00:00:14,346 - A manipulative convict... 8 00:00:14,505 --> 00:00:17,933 - Timothy Vail was a mean, nasty, dangerous person. 9 00:00:18,092 --> 00:00:19,184 - People's impressions of Tim 10 00:00:19,343 --> 00:00:22,512 was that he had like a friendly personality. 11 00:00:22,605 --> 00:00:26,191 - Enlists his friend and fellow cellmate... 12 00:00:26,350 --> 00:00:28,944 - Vail, he really needed somebody he could trust 13 00:00:29,029 --> 00:00:32,522 and not squeal on his plan or divulge it in any way. 14 00:00:32,607 --> 00:00:34,357 - To tunnel out of their cell... 15 00:00:34,442 --> 00:00:36,201 [dramatic music] 16 00:00:36,286 --> 00:00:38,620 - To get through that hole, that's the amazing part. 17 00:00:38,780 --> 00:00:41,373 - There was no way, no way I'm getting through that. 18 00:00:41,458 --> 00:00:43,709 - And break out of this hellhole. 19 00:00:43,793 --> 00:00:45,627 [thud] [dramatic musical sting] 20 00:00:45,712 --> 00:00:50,049 [epic music] 21 00:00:50,208 --> 00:00:52,626 Some of the greatest stories ever told 22 00:00:52,719 --> 00:00:54,970 start behind bars. 23 00:00:56,714 --> 00:00:58,548 Locked up in the most notorious prisons 24 00:00:58,633 --> 00:01:00,383 in the world, 25 00:01:00,468 --> 00:01:04,897 spied on by guards and fellow prisoners, 26 00:01:05,056 --> 00:01:08,400 it takes a devious mind to find a way out. 27 00:01:08,559 --> 00:01:10,152 ♪ ♪ 28 00:01:10,311 --> 00:01:13,155 It could lead you to freedom, 29 00:01:13,239 --> 00:01:14,898 or it could cost you your life. 30 00:01:14,982 --> 00:01:17,150 ♪ ♪ 31 00:01:17,235 --> 00:01:19,578 But wouldn't you try... 32 00:01:19,737 --> 00:01:21,246 when you have nothing left to lose? 33 00:01:21,405 --> 00:01:26,210 ♪ ♪ 34 00:01:34,344 --> 00:01:36,929 Imagine being crammed in this 8x10 cell 35 00:01:37,088 --> 00:01:38,514 with another person. 36 00:01:39,849 --> 00:01:42,267 There's barely any room to move... 37 00:01:42,352 --> 00:01:44,603 let alone think. 38 00:01:44,762 --> 00:01:47,689 Your cellmate can be your best friend, 39 00:01:47,774 --> 00:01:49,933 your worst nightmare, 40 00:01:50,026 --> 00:01:52,352 or, if you play your cards right, 41 00:01:52,445 --> 00:01:55,438 your co-conspirator in escape. 42 00:01:55,523 --> 00:01:57,691 And believe me, 43 00:01:57,784 --> 00:02:01,537 Elmira Correctional Facility is a place you want to escape. 44 00:02:02,697 --> 00:02:05,031 [light music] 45 00:02:05,125 --> 00:02:06,458 - It looks majestic. 46 00:02:06,617 --> 00:02:09,035 It looks like a castle from the outside. 47 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:10,453 But looks can be deceiving. 48 00:02:10,547 --> 00:02:13,456 It's a pretty dangerous, hectic place 49 00:02:13,541 --> 00:02:16,209 when you step inside and the gates close behind you. 50 00:02:16,302 --> 00:02:18,554 - Elmira being a maximum-security facility, 51 00:02:18,713 --> 00:02:22,641 it houses some of the worst individuals in the state. 52 00:02:22,725 --> 00:02:25,468 Typically, at a max, you're dealing with gang members, 53 00:02:25,562 --> 00:02:27,053 you're dealing with rapists, 54 00:02:27,138 --> 00:02:28,397 you're dealing with child molesters, 55 00:02:28,556 --> 00:02:30,065 you're dealing with murderers. 56 00:02:30,224 --> 00:02:32,058 Those are the type of individuals 57 00:02:32,143 --> 00:02:34,978 that would be held in a facility like that. 58 00:02:35,062 --> 00:02:36,897 [dramatic music] 59 00:02:36,990 --> 00:02:38,064 - It wouldn't be surprising to have three, 60 00:02:38,149 --> 00:02:40,066 four fights a week. 61 00:02:40,151 --> 00:02:42,995 - There was a lot of stabbings and cuttings. 62 00:02:43,154 --> 00:02:47,908 ♪ ♪ 63 00:02:48,001 --> 00:02:50,744 - The prison is built to be an inescapable fortress 64 00:02:50,837 --> 00:02:53,255 for these violent criminals. 65 00:02:53,414 --> 00:02:55,424 It has seven guard towers, 66 00:02:55,508 --> 00:02:59,336 each manned by officers armed with automatic weapons, 67 00:02:59,420 --> 00:03:02,181 fencing, and buzzers. 68 00:03:02,265 --> 00:03:05,684 But the crown jewel of the prison security 69 00:03:05,843 --> 00:03:09,771 is its four-story stone and steel housing unit. 70 00:03:09,931 --> 00:03:14,193 From this cell block called F Block, 71 00:03:14,352 --> 00:03:18,113 prisoners can see out into the free world, 72 00:03:18,198 --> 00:03:22,201 away from all the madness inside these prison walls. 73 00:03:24,528 --> 00:03:28,707 There was a prisoner here who has a cell with view. 74 00:03:28,866 --> 00:03:31,293 And he isn't content to sit and daydream 75 00:03:31,452 --> 00:03:34,296 about life on the outside. 76 00:03:34,380 --> 00:03:37,633 He is determined to live it. 77 00:03:37,792 --> 00:03:40,677 His name is Timothy Vail. 78 00:03:47,468 --> 00:03:49,561 - He had like a friendly personality, 79 00:03:49,646 --> 00:03:52,731 but he would only show that if he was interacting 80 00:03:52,890 --> 00:03:55,058 with somebody that he was familiar with. 81 00:03:55,142 --> 00:03:58,987 - Timothy Vail was a mean, nasty, dangerous person. 82 00:03:59,146 --> 00:04:01,064 He was a rapist and a murderer. 83 00:04:01,148 --> 00:04:03,742 He raped a pregnant woman and killed her. 84 00:04:05,569 --> 00:04:07,570 - Vail is sentenced to 49 years to life 85 00:04:07,655 --> 00:04:09,915 for his crimes. 86 00:04:10,074 --> 00:04:14,503 By 2003, he has already spent 15 years behind bars. 87 00:04:14,587 --> 00:04:16,997 He will be a very old man by the time 88 00:04:17,081 --> 00:04:20,259 he's released-- If that day ever comes. 89 00:04:21,678 --> 00:04:23,929 He is looking for another way out. 90 00:04:25,172 --> 00:04:27,349 And one day, in the prison yard, 91 00:04:27,508 --> 00:04:30,227 he thinks he's spotted it. 92 00:04:31,938 --> 00:04:35,682 - From the gym yard, you can see up onto the roof, 93 00:04:35,766 --> 00:04:37,934 and you can see that, above F Block, 94 00:04:38,027 --> 00:04:40,603 there is the end of a venting system. 95 00:04:40,697 --> 00:04:42,522 - From a distance, he could see 96 00:04:42,606 --> 00:04:44,449 the big louvers of a giant fan 97 00:04:44,608 --> 00:04:47,527 that might be 5 feet wide and 5 feet tall 98 00:04:47,611 --> 00:04:48,954 and thought to himself, 99 00:04:49,113 --> 00:04:52,457 "If I could get in the attic, I could disengage that fan 100 00:04:52,542 --> 00:04:55,127 and might be able to get out on the roof." 101 00:04:55,286 --> 00:04:58,121 - From the roof, Vail could figure a way down 102 00:04:58,214 --> 00:05:00,299 and make his way to freedom. 103 00:05:00,458 --> 00:05:03,293 But his first obstacle is getting to that roof. 104 00:05:03,377 --> 00:05:04,970 He's in F Block, 105 00:05:05,054 --> 00:05:07,806 but he's living on the bottom floor. 106 00:05:08,716 --> 00:05:11,226 There are three stories of cells and an attic 107 00:05:11,385 --> 00:05:13,312 between him and the roof. 108 00:05:13,396 --> 00:05:17,232 He has to find a way to be moved to the top floor, 109 00:05:17,391 --> 00:05:19,651 so he can get into the attic. 110 00:05:19,736 --> 00:05:23,229 Vail realizes he knows the perfect person 111 00:05:23,314 --> 00:05:26,149 who lives on the top floor 112 00:05:26,233 --> 00:05:30,487 and just so happens to be in a double bunk cell. 113 00:05:30,580 --> 00:05:32,831 His name is Timothy Morgan. 114 00:05:39,255 --> 00:05:42,082 Timothy Morgan is serving 25 years to life 115 00:05:42,166 --> 00:05:45,344 for murdering a cab driver during a robbery. 116 00:05:45,428 --> 00:05:47,670 Like Vail... 117 00:05:47,755 --> 00:05:50,349 he'd had enough of life in this hellhole. 118 00:05:51,684 --> 00:05:54,853 - Morgan and Vail met when they were in E Block, 119 00:05:55,012 --> 00:05:57,606 which is a substance abuse treatment program. 120 00:05:57,690 --> 00:05:59,099 They double-bunked there for a little while, 121 00:05:59,183 --> 00:06:01,184 got to know each other. 122 00:06:01,277 --> 00:06:04,446 - I believe that Vail picked Morgan 123 00:06:04,605 --> 00:06:07,941 because he was a follower and would follow his direction 124 00:06:08,025 --> 00:06:09,368 and agreed with the plan. 125 00:06:11,204 --> 00:06:13,613 - With Morgan enlisted in trying to escape, 126 00:06:13,706 --> 00:06:15,365 they now need to figure out 127 00:06:15,458 --> 00:06:17,709 how they can room with one another. 128 00:06:18,961 --> 00:06:21,546 - Morgan was already with another inmate 129 00:06:21,631 --> 00:06:25,875 in the cell up on the top tier of F Block. 130 00:06:25,968 --> 00:06:28,470 Vail approached him with his plan, 131 00:06:28,554 --> 00:06:29,971 and in order to do that, 132 00:06:30,056 --> 00:06:32,557 he had to get the other inmate in with him 133 00:06:32,716 --> 00:06:35,310 to request to get out of the double bunk cell. 134 00:06:35,469 --> 00:06:37,053 - Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 135 00:06:37,146 --> 00:06:38,972 already did live in a double bunk 136 00:06:39,056 --> 00:06:40,565 when they were in E Block, 137 00:06:40,650 --> 00:06:42,234 and they never once had a problem. 138 00:06:42,393 --> 00:06:45,311 And now they're asking to double bunk again. 139 00:06:45,396 --> 00:06:47,197 I'm gonna sign off on that, every time. 140 00:06:53,737 --> 00:06:56,081 - As soon as Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 141 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,501 become cellmates, they fly into action. 142 00:07:00,828 --> 00:07:02,170 But they don't know how they're going to 143 00:07:02,329 --> 00:07:04,256 access the prison's attic. 144 00:07:07,168 --> 00:07:10,837 In their cell, there aren't any easy-to-exploit openings 145 00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:13,348 such as an air vent. 146 00:07:13,507 --> 00:07:15,600 Those are in the hallways. 147 00:07:15,759 --> 00:07:17,677 The only thing they can think of 148 00:07:17,761 --> 00:07:19,929 is making a hole in the concrete ceiling 149 00:07:20,014 --> 00:07:22,190 of their cell. 150 00:07:22,275 --> 00:07:24,359 But if they succeed in making a hole, 151 00:07:24,518 --> 00:07:26,278 how are they going to conceal it? 152 00:07:26,437 --> 00:07:29,189 - They complained to the staff in the cell block 153 00:07:29,282 --> 00:07:31,024 and said, hey, you know, 154 00:07:31,108 --> 00:07:33,368 you have these night lights outside of our cell, 155 00:07:33,453 --> 00:07:35,445 'cause we're in a top tier, 156 00:07:35,538 --> 00:07:36,613 and it's really bright in our cell, 157 00:07:36,697 --> 00:07:38,031 and it's tough to sleep. 158 00:07:38,124 --> 00:07:42,452 Do you mind if we paint the top of our cell black to, 159 00:07:42,536 --> 00:07:44,454 you know, cut down on the light? 160 00:07:44,547 --> 00:07:47,466 - Usually, if an inmate is willing to paint 161 00:07:47,625 --> 00:07:49,050 or clean up his cell 162 00:07:49,135 --> 00:07:50,635 or pretty up his cell in some way, 163 00:07:50,794 --> 00:07:52,462 staff is gonna say, "Absolutely. 164 00:07:52,555 --> 00:07:54,047 Make it look better. Yeah, go ahead, paint it." 165 00:07:54,140 --> 00:07:56,299 - In all actuality, it just made it easier 166 00:07:56,392 --> 00:07:58,101 for them to cover the hole. 167 00:08:00,137 --> 00:08:02,972 So, if you were to look in the cell, it's black. 168 00:08:03,057 --> 00:08:05,225 You know, if you looked at it, it wouldn't stick out. 169 00:08:05,318 --> 00:08:06,735 - The stage is set. 170 00:08:06,894 --> 00:08:08,570 Now, all they need 171 00:08:08,654 --> 00:08:11,064 is something with which to make a hole, 172 00:08:11,157 --> 00:08:13,316 something that won't get them in trouble 173 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,735 if the cell is searched. 174 00:08:15,828 --> 00:08:18,580 Vail knows the perfect place to find a tool 175 00:08:18,739 --> 00:08:20,832 they might be able to use. 176 00:08:22,418 --> 00:08:25,495 - Vail worked in the vocational carpentry shop. 177 00:08:25,588 --> 00:08:27,088 He started out being a student there. 178 00:08:27,248 --> 00:08:29,257 - Vail is good with tools. 179 00:08:29,416 --> 00:08:31,167 And he quickly shows his worth 180 00:08:31,260 --> 00:08:34,346 to the civilian instructor, Gary Silvers. 181 00:08:40,427 --> 00:08:43,355 - Mr. Silvers was a really nice guy. 182 00:08:43,514 --> 00:08:45,941 Type of guys I'd love to have as a neighbor. 183 00:08:46,025 --> 00:08:47,275 I could borrow something from him. 184 00:08:47,434 --> 00:08:49,018 He'd always be dependable. 185 00:08:49,103 --> 00:08:51,279 I could count on him. He was a nice guy. 186 00:08:51,438 --> 00:08:53,532 But nice guys aren't always the ones 187 00:08:53,691 --> 00:08:57,277 who make it far in the prison environment. 188 00:08:57,361 --> 00:08:59,362 - Vail uses his charm 189 00:08:59,446 --> 00:09:02,457 to gain favor with Gary Silvers, 190 00:09:02,616 --> 00:09:04,459 and Vail works his way up 191 00:09:04,618 --> 00:09:06,962 to the position of tool clerk 192 00:09:07,121 --> 00:09:09,214 in the prison carpentry shop. 193 00:09:11,125 --> 00:09:13,969 - Vail worked in the tool room, which... 194 00:09:14,053 --> 00:09:16,054 it was letting the wolf [laughs] in the hen house. 195 00:09:16,138 --> 00:09:19,140 That gave him the opportunity to get away 196 00:09:19,225 --> 00:09:21,393 with some of the stuff he brought back to his cell. 197 00:09:21,552 --> 00:09:24,229 - What can Timothy Vail take back to his cell 198 00:09:24,388 --> 00:09:28,558 from the tool room that won't be noticed? 199 00:09:28,642 --> 00:09:31,394 - Sheet rock screws definitely is not the type of object 200 00:09:31,478 --> 00:09:34,147 that would be counted in inventory. 201 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,316 It wouldn't even be noticed that they were missing. 202 00:09:36,409 --> 00:09:39,736 - At the time, there were so many of those screws, 203 00:09:39,820 --> 00:09:41,997 we couldn't count them all 204 00:09:42,081 --> 00:09:43,906 and record how many were left, 205 00:09:43,991 --> 00:09:45,908 how many were missing. 206 00:09:45,993 --> 00:09:48,253 Who's countin' screws? How much can a screw hurt you? 207 00:09:49,672 --> 00:09:51,998 - The screws are exactly what Vail and Morgan need 208 00:09:52,082 --> 00:09:53,675 to make the hole. 209 00:09:53,834 --> 00:09:55,168 But standing in their way 210 00:09:55,252 --> 00:09:58,087 to get the screws back to their cell 211 00:09:58,172 --> 00:10:00,682 is a checkpoint known as Center Gate. 212 00:10:02,009 --> 00:10:03,843 - Center Gate is a main location 213 00:10:03,936 --> 00:10:06,187 where everybody-- The prisoners and the staff-- 214 00:10:06,347 --> 00:10:08,273 Have to pass through 215 00:10:08,357 --> 00:10:10,850 in order to go from the cell blocks 216 00:10:10,943 --> 00:10:14,029 out to the vocational areas. 217 00:10:14,188 --> 00:10:17,115 And there's a ledge where you take things out of your pocket 218 00:10:17,274 --> 00:10:19,525 and you put it on the ledge, and the guards look at it, 219 00:10:19,610 --> 00:10:22,445 push it through, and you pick your property back up. 220 00:10:22,529 --> 00:10:25,698 And so they'll pick somebody out 221 00:10:25,783 --> 00:10:30,119 and they'll put them against the fence to do a pat frisk. 222 00:10:30,204 --> 00:10:32,380 - At the Center Gate, where they frisk the inmates, 223 00:10:32,465 --> 00:10:34,633 class lets out in the middle of the shift. 224 00:10:34,717 --> 00:10:38,136 There may only be one officer there at that gate, 225 00:10:38,295 --> 00:10:41,714 who can't safely frisk these 20 inmates, 226 00:10:41,799 --> 00:10:43,466 because you always have to have 227 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:44,643 someone watching your back, 228 00:10:44,727 --> 00:10:46,895 should there be a weapon or something. 229 00:10:47,054 --> 00:10:48,897 So, the officer, a lot of times, wouldn't frisk them. 230 00:10:49,056 --> 00:10:51,066 And Vail knew that. 231 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,811 - Timothy Vail needs to wait for the right moment 232 00:10:54,895 --> 00:10:57,572 to get these screws out of the workshop. 233 00:11:02,578 --> 00:11:04,996 And the opportunity presents itself 234 00:11:05,081 --> 00:11:08,750 the day after Vail moves in with Timothy Morgan. 235 00:11:08,834 --> 00:11:10,827 Gary Silvers informs Timothy 236 00:11:10,911 --> 00:11:14,339 that he's taking the afternoon off. 237 00:11:14,498 --> 00:11:17,166 This is the moment Vail has been waiting for. 238 00:11:17,251 --> 00:11:20,503 With Silvers leaving, the shop will close early, 239 00:11:20,596 --> 00:11:22,347 and Vail will be going through Center Gate 240 00:11:22,506 --> 00:11:26,184 at a time he's less likely to be frisked. 241 00:11:26,268 --> 00:11:30,763 Less likely doesn't mean he won't get stopped and frisked. 242 00:11:30,856 --> 00:11:32,932 Anything can happen. 243 00:11:33,025 --> 00:11:36,018 [intense music] 244 00:11:36,103 --> 00:11:39,856 ♪ ♪ 245 00:11:39,940 --> 00:11:41,858 Vail easily steals the screws, 246 00:11:41,942 --> 00:11:44,026 but now comes the hard part-- 247 00:11:44,111 --> 00:11:46,705 Getting past Center Gate. 248 00:11:49,458 --> 00:11:53,286 Timothy Vail is hoping he will not be stopped and frisked. 249 00:11:53,370 --> 00:11:55,714 If they find the screws, 250 00:11:55,798 --> 00:11:57,874 he will be condemned for the rest of his life 251 00:11:57,958 --> 00:11:59,884 to this deadly prison. 252 00:12:00,043 --> 00:12:01,553 ♪ ♪ 253 00:12:08,894 --> 00:12:11,730 - Timothy Vail wants to escape from the depressing 254 00:12:11,889 --> 00:12:14,891 and dangerous Elmira Correctional Facility. 255 00:12:16,310 --> 00:12:19,395 He's stolen screws from the workshop where he works, 256 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:20,655 but now he has to get them through 257 00:12:20,814 --> 00:12:24,325 the security checkpoint known as Center Gate. 258 00:12:25,578 --> 00:12:28,580 Imagine being in line with contraband in your pocket, 259 00:12:28,739 --> 00:12:31,657 waiting to see if the guards will let you past... 260 00:12:31,751 --> 00:12:34,335 or frisk you. 261 00:12:34,420 --> 00:12:37,663 I'd be sweating bullets. 262 00:12:37,748 --> 00:12:41,000 And when the guards frisk the inmates ahead of them, 263 00:12:41,084 --> 00:12:43,836 Timothy Vail must be. 264 00:12:43,929 --> 00:12:46,005 [intense music] 265 00:12:46,089 --> 00:12:48,433 Will the guards stop him? 266 00:12:50,686 --> 00:12:53,179 It's a close call. 267 00:12:53,263 --> 00:12:56,024 Now, he has these screws, 268 00:12:56,183 --> 00:13:00,695 and he can begin gouging a hole in the ceiling of his cell-- 269 00:13:00,780 --> 00:13:02,855 His first step toward freedom. 270 00:13:02,948 --> 00:13:05,441 [scraping sound] 271 00:13:05,534 --> 00:13:07,118 - They would take turns digging. 272 00:13:07,277 --> 00:13:10,288 Whoever wasn't laying on the top bunk digging 273 00:13:10,372 --> 00:13:12,949 was sitting, looking down the gallery 274 00:13:13,042 --> 00:13:15,251 to see if anyone was coming. 275 00:13:16,787 --> 00:13:19,297 - Vail and Morgan soon realize 276 00:13:19,381 --> 00:13:22,967 they need more cover to work on hole. 277 00:13:23,126 --> 00:13:25,386 - Putting a sheet up definitely is not anything 278 00:13:25,471 --> 00:13:27,722 that would raise any eyebrows, 279 00:13:27,881 --> 00:13:29,966 because a lot of times 280 00:13:30,050 --> 00:13:31,643 the prisoners would put the sheet up 281 00:13:31,802 --> 00:13:33,302 if they were gonna use the bathroom. 282 00:13:33,395 --> 00:13:35,647 Like, nobody wants to see that. 283 00:13:35,731 --> 00:13:38,650 - Their sheets ward off prying eyes. 284 00:13:38,809 --> 00:13:42,144 But sheets and the black ceiling are not enough. 285 00:13:42,238 --> 00:13:44,564 They must figure out something else 286 00:13:44,657 --> 00:13:47,909 to hide the progress they're making on the hole. 287 00:13:47,993 --> 00:13:50,995 Timothy Vail gets an idea-- 288 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:54,490 He can paint a piece of paper black. 289 00:13:54,575 --> 00:13:58,670 But how will he attach it without glue or tape, 290 00:13:58,829 --> 00:14:01,130 since both are contraband in prison? 291 00:14:02,341 --> 00:14:05,501 - Inmates use toothpaste for glue in prison. 292 00:14:05,586 --> 00:14:09,005 It works great for family photos or a calendar. 293 00:14:09,089 --> 00:14:10,840 When the toothpaste dries, 294 00:14:10,933 --> 00:14:13,268 it's pretty much there to stay. 295 00:14:13,427 --> 00:14:15,678 - So, when somebody walked by, 296 00:14:15,771 --> 00:14:17,346 they had a piece of black paper 297 00:14:17,431 --> 00:14:20,358 that they would stick up against the hole 298 00:14:20,442 --> 00:14:24,153 using toothpaste, and nobody would ever see it. 299 00:14:26,189 --> 00:14:28,441 - The inmates work on the ceiling every day, 300 00:14:28,525 --> 00:14:31,193 mostly during their free time, 301 00:14:31,278 --> 00:14:34,280 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 302 00:14:34,364 --> 00:14:36,875 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., 303 00:14:37,034 --> 00:14:39,785 and 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. during the week, 304 00:14:39,870 --> 00:14:41,796 and all day on the weekends. 305 00:14:41,881 --> 00:14:45,458 Timothy Vail is constantly stealing new sheetrock screws 306 00:14:45,542 --> 00:14:49,387 as they wear out, but still, progress is slow. 307 00:14:51,298 --> 00:14:53,391 Vail, the brains of the operation, 308 00:14:53,475 --> 00:14:56,561 is starting to doubt that the screws alone will cut it. 309 00:14:57,888 --> 00:14:59,397 - He's going through hard concrete 310 00:14:59,556 --> 00:15:01,557 that's been there for [laughs] a long time, 311 00:15:01,642 --> 00:15:03,059 and it was just slow going. 312 00:15:03,152 --> 00:15:04,977 It's just gonna take him forever. 313 00:15:05,062 --> 00:15:06,404 He knew that wasn't gonna work. 314 00:15:06,488 --> 00:15:09,815 So he had to figure out something to pound it with. 315 00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:11,743 ♪ ♪ 316 00:15:11,827 --> 00:15:14,412 - Vail knows he has to take another big risk 317 00:15:14,496 --> 00:15:17,206 and try to smuggle more tools out of the carpentry shop. 318 00:15:18,575 --> 00:15:20,209 But what? 319 00:15:26,258 --> 00:15:28,668 For Timothy Vail, an opportunity presents itself 320 00:15:28,752 --> 00:15:30,428 when Gary Silvers asks Vail 321 00:15:30,587 --> 00:15:32,764 to disassemble an old wood planer 322 00:15:32,923 --> 00:15:35,767 that the carpentry shop is discarding. 323 00:15:37,928 --> 00:15:39,512 As Vail takes the machine apart, 324 00:15:39,596 --> 00:15:41,514 he notices a guide piece 325 00:15:41,607 --> 00:15:44,776 that he thinks would work well as a hammer. 326 00:15:48,855 --> 00:15:50,198 - It was part of the machine. 327 00:15:50,282 --> 00:15:52,450 It looked like a cylinder with a metal rod sticking out 328 00:15:52,534 --> 00:15:54,369 like you'd use a handle. 329 00:15:54,528 --> 00:15:56,621 - But how would he get the handle out of the woodshop 330 00:15:56,780 --> 00:15:59,699 and past Center Gate undetected? 331 00:15:59,783 --> 00:16:03,703 The guide piece is much larger than a bunch of screws. 332 00:16:03,796 --> 00:16:07,382 This time, his partner in crime, Timothy Morgan, 333 00:16:07,466 --> 00:16:09,133 is willing to take the risk. 334 00:16:13,463 --> 00:16:15,631 Morgan visits Vail in the carpentry shop 335 00:16:15,716 --> 00:16:18,884 where he hides the guide piece in his pants 336 00:16:18,969 --> 00:16:23,147 so he can try and get past the security at Center Gate. 337 00:16:24,641 --> 00:16:26,651 Morgan isn't as confident as Vail is 338 00:16:26,735 --> 00:16:28,144 about getting through Center Gate 339 00:16:28,228 --> 00:16:30,229 with contraband in his pants. 340 00:16:30,313 --> 00:16:32,565 He's never done something like this before. 341 00:16:32,658 --> 00:16:35,234 But if he's going to be part of this escape, 342 00:16:35,318 --> 00:16:37,328 he needs to hold up his end. 343 00:16:37,413 --> 00:16:40,415 This isn't going to be easy for him. 344 00:16:40,499 --> 00:16:41,824 - There's not an X-ray machine. 345 00:16:41,908 --> 00:16:43,743 I can't see through your pants. 346 00:16:43,827 --> 00:16:46,337 The best way for me to tell is to touch you. 347 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:52,501 - Unfortunately for Morgan, he's chosen for a frisk. 348 00:16:52,586 --> 00:16:55,254 Any minute, the guard will check his pants. 349 00:16:55,338 --> 00:16:58,674 If the guard finds the piece, what will Morgan say? 350 00:16:58,767 --> 00:17:00,926 Will he give their escape plan away? 351 00:17:01,011 --> 00:17:03,104 [escalating music] 352 00:17:03,188 --> 00:17:04,430 Luckily for Morgan, 353 00:17:04,514 --> 00:17:07,859 the guards don't thoroughly check his pants. 354 00:17:09,528 --> 00:17:12,530 Now they have something to pound the screws with. 355 00:17:14,107 --> 00:17:18,870 For 17 days, they hammer away, without being detected. 356 00:17:19,029 --> 00:17:20,705 - They had a calendar in their cell, 357 00:17:20,789 --> 00:17:24,283 and they recorded what days they worked on their hole. 358 00:17:24,367 --> 00:17:26,544 And the days that they made good progress, 359 00:17:26,703 --> 00:17:28,546 they would put a smiley face on the calendar. 360 00:17:30,123 --> 00:17:34,010 - All is going well... until they hit a snag. 361 00:17:35,888 --> 00:17:39,474 - They come across rebar, the metal steel bar 362 00:17:39,558 --> 00:17:42,384 that runs through the concrete itself. 363 00:17:42,469 --> 00:17:44,645 So now, they didn't plan for that. 364 00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:47,732 They had no way of knowing. 365 00:17:47,816 --> 00:17:50,902 - Once again, Vail's mind turns to the carpentry shop. 366 00:17:52,571 --> 00:17:55,481 - The bandsaws that they used, as they get older, 367 00:17:55,565 --> 00:17:57,241 they'd come apart. 368 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:01,153 In order to get a new blade for the bandsaw, 369 00:18:01,246 --> 00:18:04,240 he would take the old one, give it to Mr. Silver, 370 00:18:04,324 --> 00:18:05,917 so he would get him a new one. 371 00:18:06,001 --> 00:18:08,160 It was a one-for-one trade, thinking that 372 00:18:08,245 --> 00:18:10,996 that way, no saw blades are getting anywhere. 373 00:18:11,081 --> 00:18:13,582 But Mr. Silver didn't realize 374 00:18:13,667 --> 00:18:16,836 Vail was cutting 4-inch or 6-inch lengths 375 00:18:16,929 --> 00:18:19,889 off the saw blade and then giving him the rest. 376 00:18:22,851 --> 00:18:25,103 - Blades are serious contraband, 377 00:18:25,262 --> 00:18:27,763 compared to screws and a planer handle. 378 00:18:27,848 --> 00:18:29,765 If they are found in possession of the inmates 379 00:18:29,850 --> 00:18:31,267 at Center Gate, 380 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:34,854 they could be staring at time in solitary confinement-- 381 00:18:34,938 --> 00:18:36,772 The hole. 382 00:18:36,857 --> 00:18:38,858 They have to devise a better way 383 00:18:38,942 --> 00:18:41,119 of getting past Center Gate 384 00:18:41,203 --> 00:18:44,372 than just a hope and a prayer that they won't get frisked. 385 00:18:44,531 --> 00:18:46,448 Vail has an idea. 386 00:18:46,533 --> 00:18:47,950 - So, he takes the blades-- 387 00:18:48,034 --> 00:18:50,703 In order to get them back to his cell, 388 00:18:50,787 --> 00:18:54,039 he takes a tobacco pouch, put the saw blades in there, 389 00:18:54,124 --> 00:18:55,967 sealed it back up so it looks brand-new. 390 00:18:57,386 --> 00:18:59,554 - With the blades hidden in his tobacco pouch, 391 00:18:59,638 --> 00:19:03,048 Timothy Vail makes his way through Center Gate... 392 00:19:03,133 --> 00:19:05,476 hoping that the pouch will go unnoticed. 393 00:19:06,636 --> 00:19:07,887 - That would be an item-- 394 00:19:07,971 --> 00:19:10,055 You would actually take that out of your pocket, 395 00:19:10,140 --> 00:19:13,484 put that on the small ledge, the guard would look at it. 396 00:19:13,643 --> 00:19:16,821 - The guard inspects the tobacco. 397 00:19:16,980 --> 00:19:18,731 Will he think it's just a new package, 398 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:22,568 or will he search it and send Vail to the hole, 399 00:19:22,652 --> 00:19:25,738 where he will rot for many, many years? 400 00:19:25,822 --> 00:19:27,331 ♪ ♪ 401 00:19:32,996 --> 00:19:35,164 - Inmates Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 402 00:19:35,257 --> 00:19:36,665 are attempting to break through 403 00:19:36,750 --> 00:19:38,334 the ceiling of their cell 404 00:19:38,418 --> 00:19:40,094 to teach the roof of the dangerous and dank 405 00:19:40,253 --> 00:19:42,421 Elmira Correctional Facility. 406 00:19:42,505 --> 00:19:44,599 ♪ ♪ 407 00:19:44,683 --> 00:19:48,344 They reached a snag and hit rebar. 408 00:19:48,428 --> 00:19:50,679 Needing a tool to cut through it, 409 00:19:50,764 --> 00:19:54,025 Timothy Vail has taken pieces of an old bandsaw from his job 410 00:19:54,109 --> 00:19:56,027 at the prison's woodworking shop 411 00:19:56,186 --> 00:19:59,188 and sealed it into a tobacco pouch. 412 00:19:59,272 --> 00:20:03,117 Now, he just has to make it past Center Gate 413 00:20:03,276 --> 00:20:05,361 and back to his cell. 414 00:20:05,445 --> 00:20:08,789 - He used a tobacco pouch, sealed it back up 415 00:20:08,874 --> 00:20:10,366 so it looked like it was brand-new 416 00:20:10,459 --> 00:20:12,210 so the officer wouldn't look through it. 417 00:20:12,369 --> 00:20:13,702 He'd have no reason to open it up. 418 00:20:13,787 --> 00:20:17,456 [intense musical build-up] 419 00:20:17,540 --> 00:20:21,219 ♪ ♪ 420 00:20:23,129 --> 00:20:25,130 - Timothy Vail makes it back to his cell 421 00:20:25,215 --> 00:20:27,850 with the sawblades unscathed. 422 00:20:29,803 --> 00:20:32,647 Now that they have the blades, 423 00:20:32,731 --> 00:20:35,641 they've come up with a way to fashion them into a tool 424 00:20:35,725 --> 00:20:37,235 to cut through the rebar. 425 00:20:39,071 --> 00:20:41,072 - He took parts of a toothbrush-- 426 00:20:41,156 --> 00:20:42,147 Plastic toothbrush, 427 00:20:42,232 --> 00:20:44,650 melted it on the ends of the blade 428 00:20:44,743 --> 00:20:45,985 so he could hold it, 429 00:20:46,069 --> 00:20:47,828 so he could use it as like a handle to saw, 430 00:20:47,988 --> 00:20:50,081 'cause obviously he didn't want to hold on to the blades. 431 00:20:50,165 --> 00:20:52,750 - The blades now look like a tool. 432 00:20:52,834 --> 00:20:55,419 And if found during a cell search, 433 00:20:55,578 --> 00:20:57,171 the guards would most certainly 434 00:20:57,330 --> 00:20:59,248 find the hole in the ceiling. 435 00:20:59,341 --> 00:21:01,583 - Cell searches are often random. 436 00:21:01,668 --> 00:21:05,170 Guards come in your cell, and they look around. 437 00:21:05,255 --> 00:21:09,016 I mean, it might be that they totally wreck the whole cell, 438 00:21:09,101 --> 00:21:12,770 or it might be that the cell is barely searched at all. 439 00:21:18,601 --> 00:21:21,103 - Almost a month into their escape plan, 440 00:21:21,187 --> 00:21:24,523 their cell hasn't been searched yet. 441 00:21:24,607 --> 00:21:27,276 But their luck has run out. 442 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:29,278 They see two officers heading their way, 443 00:21:29,362 --> 00:21:31,530 and it can only mean one thing-- 444 00:21:31,614 --> 00:21:34,250 A random cell search. 445 00:21:35,794 --> 00:21:39,204 [suspenseful music] 446 00:21:39,289 --> 00:21:44,635 ♪ ♪ 447 00:21:46,713 --> 00:21:49,390 This is what inmates Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 448 00:21:49,474 --> 00:21:52,143 are most afraid of the guards finding. 449 00:21:52,227 --> 00:21:54,645 It is an improvised saw, 450 00:21:54,730 --> 00:21:56,647 made to cut through a piece of rebar 451 00:21:56,732 --> 00:21:59,150 in the concrete ceiling of their cell. 452 00:22:01,069 --> 00:22:04,730 Now, it could land them in the hole for years. 453 00:22:04,814 --> 00:22:08,492 And their hopes of escape would be cut to shreds. 454 00:22:10,579 --> 00:22:13,155 The guards rifle through the cell 455 00:22:13,239 --> 00:22:15,908 looking for any signs of contraband. 456 00:22:16,001 --> 00:22:19,495 [intense music] 457 00:22:19,579 --> 00:22:26,001 ♪ ♪ 458 00:22:26,094 --> 00:22:28,012 They breathe a sigh of relief 459 00:22:28,096 --> 00:22:31,840 as the officer doesn't notice the hole in their ceiling 460 00:22:31,933 --> 00:22:34,852 or find the saws in their cell. 461 00:22:36,188 --> 00:22:37,688 - They obviously concealed it pretty well. 462 00:22:37,773 --> 00:22:41,517 - They are almost two months into digging, 463 00:22:41,601 --> 00:22:44,195 and the screws they have are worn out. 464 00:22:45,781 --> 00:22:47,531 Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 465 00:22:47,690 --> 00:22:49,274 are going to need a lot more screws, 466 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,110 more than just the handfuls 467 00:22:51,194 --> 00:22:54,205 they've been able to steal from the shop. 468 00:22:55,198 --> 00:22:58,125 Timothy Vail, always thinking, 469 00:22:58,210 --> 00:23:01,954 has a plan to get over 100 screws back to his cell. 470 00:23:02,872 --> 00:23:05,383 - He said his chair in his cell was rickety 471 00:23:05,542 --> 00:23:07,718 and he wanted to tighten it up, fix it. 472 00:23:07,803 --> 00:23:09,470 So he brought it over to the shop. 473 00:23:09,554 --> 00:23:11,463 But what he actually did was took the sheetrock screws, 474 00:23:11,548 --> 00:23:12,631 wrapped them with tape, 475 00:23:12,715 --> 00:23:15,559 and slid them inside the hollow legs, 476 00:23:15,644 --> 00:23:17,061 put the legs back on the chair. 477 00:23:17,220 --> 00:23:20,147 - The first problem is the same one they've always had-- 478 00:23:20,306 --> 00:23:22,149 How to get past security 479 00:23:22,234 --> 00:23:24,309 between the workshop and the cell. 480 00:23:24,394 --> 00:23:26,645 But the real test here is psychological-- 481 00:23:26,729 --> 00:23:28,981 Figuring out how to convince Mr. Silvers 482 00:23:29,065 --> 00:23:31,567 to make a call on his behalf. 483 00:23:31,651 --> 00:23:33,411 - Timothy Vail was very smart, 484 00:23:33,570 --> 00:23:36,989 and he gained the trust of Mr. Silvers. 485 00:23:37,073 --> 00:23:39,250 Mr. Silvers wants his shop to look good. 486 00:23:39,409 --> 00:23:40,835 And by all means, he doesn't want a drill 487 00:23:40,994 --> 00:23:42,503 to come up missing. 488 00:23:42,587 --> 00:23:44,922 So, if I can count on Timothy Vail 489 00:23:45,081 --> 00:23:46,999 to do that, he's a great inmate. 490 00:23:47,083 --> 00:23:49,585 Maybe I'm gonna give him a little bit of extra privilege 491 00:23:49,669 --> 00:23:51,846 or cut him a little bit more slack 492 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:54,014 because he does such a good job for me. 493 00:23:54,174 --> 00:23:56,758 - Vail uses his charm and relationship with Silvers 494 00:23:56,843 --> 00:23:59,094 to get Silvers to make the call. 495 00:23:59,179 --> 00:24:01,105 - Mr. Silvers called the Center Gate 496 00:24:01,264 --> 00:24:04,683 and asked the officers to please let Timothy Vail 497 00:24:04,767 --> 00:24:06,569 take a chair back to the cell with him. 498 00:24:09,698 --> 00:24:13,025 Little did the staff know... 499 00:24:13,109 --> 00:24:15,786 all four legs were full of those little screws. 500 00:24:17,289 --> 00:24:19,198 - The inmates continue to track their progress 501 00:24:19,282 --> 00:24:20,616 on the calendar-- 502 00:24:20,709 --> 00:24:23,627 Xs on the days they worked, 503 00:24:23,786 --> 00:24:27,539 smiley faces on the days they made real progress. 504 00:24:27,632 --> 00:24:30,042 And on June 14, 505 00:24:30,126 --> 00:24:32,803 99 days since they began making 506 00:24:32,962 --> 00:24:36,048 the hole in the ceiling, a new entry-- 507 00:24:36,141 --> 00:24:37,641 "Breakthrough." 508 00:24:38,801 --> 00:24:41,386 Vail and Morgan have made a tiny hole 509 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,315 all the way through the ceiling into the attic. 510 00:24:46,309 --> 00:24:47,809 Now that they've broken through, 511 00:24:47,894 --> 00:24:49,320 they are going to need to work faster, 512 00:24:49,404 --> 00:24:52,990 before someone detects the hole in the attic above them. 513 00:24:53,992 --> 00:24:55,817 [punchy music] 514 00:24:55,902 --> 00:24:57,161 - They needed something that had a little bit 515 00:24:57,245 --> 00:25:00,405 more power and strength behind it. 516 00:25:00,490 --> 00:25:02,991 - Timothy Vail knows exactly what he could use: 517 00:25:03,076 --> 00:25:05,336 a 12-pound sledgehammer head. 518 00:25:06,838 --> 00:25:09,331 One is currently being used as a doorstop 519 00:25:09,415 --> 00:25:12,584 in the workshop where Vail works. 520 00:25:12,677 --> 00:25:16,680 - I walked by that sledgehammer probably 50 times, 521 00:25:16,839 --> 00:25:18,590 and as a lieutenant, I should have said 522 00:25:18,675 --> 00:25:20,175 whoa, that's dangerous, 523 00:25:20,268 --> 00:25:22,353 'cause somebody could pick it up and hit somebody with it. 524 00:25:22,437 --> 00:25:24,263 But you just become complacent 525 00:25:24,347 --> 00:25:26,023 and used to seeing things all the time. 526 00:25:26,182 --> 00:25:27,349 I didn't think anything of it. I was like, 527 00:25:27,442 --> 00:25:29,026 "Oh, that's the doorstop. That's what they use." 528 00:25:29,110 --> 00:25:33,355 - Now, Timothy Vail just needs to find the right opportunity 529 00:25:33,439 --> 00:25:35,115 to smuggle it out of the shop. 530 00:25:35,275 --> 00:25:37,326 [dramatic chords] 531 00:25:42,949 --> 00:25:45,200 - Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 532 00:25:45,285 --> 00:25:47,452 have been attempting to dig their way out of their cell, 533 00:25:47,546 --> 00:25:49,538 but it's slow going. 534 00:25:49,631 --> 00:25:51,632 Vail notices a sledgehammer 535 00:25:51,716 --> 00:25:54,552 that is used as a doorstop in the shop where he works. 536 00:25:56,212 --> 00:25:58,889 He's just waiting for the right moment to steal it. 537 00:26:06,723 --> 00:26:08,557 His opportunity comes when Mr. Silvers 538 00:26:08,641 --> 00:26:10,818 leaves the carpentry shop early. 539 00:26:10,902 --> 00:26:15,573 [suspenseful music] 540 00:26:15,657 --> 00:26:17,816 - You get caught with a actual sledgehammer head, 541 00:26:17,909 --> 00:26:20,819 I don't think there's any way that it would have not been 542 00:26:20,912 --> 00:26:24,906 automatically known that that was part of an escape. 543 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:26,917 So, if they had gotten caught with that, 544 00:26:27,076 --> 00:26:29,545 that's the whole kit and kaboodle right there. 545 00:26:31,089 --> 00:26:33,498 - He has snuck nails and other tiny pieces of metal 546 00:26:33,583 --> 00:26:35,342 through security before. 547 00:26:35,501 --> 00:26:38,754 But the sledgehammer is heavy. 548 00:26:38,847 --> 00:26:41,098 And he can't hide it very well. 549 00:26:41,257 --> 00:26:43,508 This time, he's going to have to count on pure luck 550 00:26:43,593 --> 00:26:45,427 to not get caught. 551 00:26:45,520 --> 00:26:47,855 Timothy Vail places this sledgehammer head 552 00:26:48,014 --> 00:26:51,275 in a net bag he usually carries. 553 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:52,860 - He probably had a story ready, 554 00:26:53,019 --> 00:26:54,278 should he have been frisked. 555 00:26:54,437 --> 00:26:57,356 - Vail only has one thing on his mind 556 00:26:57,440 --> 00:26:59,950 as he makes his way through Center Gate: 557 00:27:00,109 --> 00:27:03,612 will they stop him and find the sledgehammer? 558 00:27:03,696 --> 00:27:07,916 [intense music] 559 00:27:09,619 --> 00:27:12,788 Vail once again makes it back to his cell unscathed 560 00:27:12,872 --> 00:27:14,798 with the tools he needs. 561 00:27:17,377 --> 00:27:19,711 Timothy Vail tapes the edges of the sledgehammer 562 00:27:19,796 --> 00:27:21,972 so it won't make a metallic sound 563 00:27:22,131 --> 00:27:25,717 when they tap the screws to make the hole bigger. 564 00:27:25,802 --> 00:27:29,730 [intense, punchy music] 565 00:27:29,889 --> 00:27:32,140 The sledgehammer does its job, 566 00:27:32,225 --> 00:27:33,892 and soon the hole will be big enough 567 00:27:33,976 --> 00:27:36,320 for them to climb through. 568 00:27:37,563 --> 00:27:39,490 As it is looking increasingly hopeful 569 00:27:39,574 --> 00:27:41,817 that they will breach their cell, 570 00:27:41,901 --> 00:27:44,820 Vail is thinking ahead-- 571 00:27:44,904 --> 00:27:47,915 How will they be able to disguise their absence 572 00:27:48,074 --> 00:27:50,918 as they explore their exit route? 573 00:27:52,995 --> 00:27:55,923 - Their plan of avoiding detection 574 00:27:56,082 --> 00:27:58,333 was they made the dummies. 575 00:27:58,418 --> 00:28:01,512 They made the dummies as lifelike as they can. 576 00:28:01,671 --> 00:28:04,673 - Timothy Vail fills a bag with clothes 577 00:28:04,757 --> 00:28:07,101 for the body of the dummy. 578 00:28:07,260 --> 00:28:10,688 Using water, flour, and paper, 579 00:28:10,847 --> 00:28:14,274 he makes a detailed papier-mâché face. 580 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:17,361 But now, he must find paint to cover the face. 581 00:28:19,522 --> 00:28:22,950 Once again, Vail turns to the woodworking shop 582 00:28:23,109 --> 00:28:25,944 to steal the materials he needs. 583 00:28:26,028 --> 00:28:28,038 He finds paint there, 584 00:28:28,197 --> 00:28:30,866 and this time he doesn't have to worry about 585 00:28:30,959 --> 00:28:33,368 getting it through Center Gate. 586 00:28:33,453 --> 00:28:35,629 - They used flesh-colored paint, 587 00:28:35,714 --> 00:28:37,715 which is really not contraband in prison. 588 00:28:37,874 --> 00:28:40,876 Somebody could be doing an arts and craft project 589 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,470 and have a little bit of flesh paint. 590 00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:46,882 - The next step is finding hair for the dummy. 591 00:28:46,966 --> 00:28:49,810 But where will they get lifelike hair? 592 00:28:49,969 --> 00:28:52,146 - Morgan cut his hair at one point, 593 00:28:52,305 --> 00:28:54,639 and they used that on the dummies. 594 00:28:54,733 --> 00:28:56,558 - Now, somebody who went in and took a close look 595 00:28:56,651 --> 00:28:58,310 at the dummies would have realized, 596 00:28:58,403 --> 00:29:00,228 "Hey, they're dummies. They're not the inmates." 597 00:29:00,313 --> 00:29:02,906 But a guard walking by, 598 00:29:03,065 --> 00:29:04,733 an officer just kind of glancing into the cell, 599 00:29:04,826 --> 00:29:06,493 to them it might have looked like 600 00:29:06,578 --> 00:29:08,987 they're in bed like they're supposed to be. 601 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:10,572 - With the dummies complete, 602 00:29:10,665 --> 00:29:12,583 there's only one thing left to do. 603 00:29:18,998 --> 00:29:22,092 Look at this hole. It's tiny. 604 00:29:23,419 --> 00:29:25,504 But everything now hangs on Timothy Vail 605 00:29:25,597 --> 00:29:27,181 being able to get through it. 606 00:29:28,933 --> 00:29:31,510 They've lined it with plastic. 607 00:29:31,603 --> 00:29:36,264 Vail has stripped naked and covered himself in oil. 608 00:29:36,349 --> 00:29:40,685 ♪ ♪ 609 00:29:40,770 --> 00:29:44,773 Wish him luck. I know I couldn't make it. 610 00:29:44,857 --> 00:29:48,452 [dramatic music] 611 00:29:48,611 --> 00:29:55,283 ♪ ♪ 612 00:29:55,376 --> 00:29:58,119 Harry Houdini would be impressed. 613 00:29:58,204 --> 00:30:01,715 Timothy Vail has reached his Promised Land, 614 00:30:01,874 --> 00:30:05,544 and freedom is another step closer. 615 00:30:05,628 --> 00:30:07,471 [energetic music] 616 00:30:07,630 --> 00:30:09,139 - The attic-- it's pretty tall. 617 00:30:09,298 --> 00:30:11,383 Lotta open space. 618 00:30:11,467 --> 00:30:13,969 It's where all the ventilation goes, 619 00:30:14,053 --> 00:30:17,147 the air ducts that exhaust the air from the block 620 00:30:17,306 --> 00:30:20,234 to fresh air and bring in-- And keep air moving. 621 00:30:20,393 --> 00:30:21,902 - You get up into the ceiling, 622 00:30:22,061 --> 00:30:23,570 and as you came through that hole, 623 00:30:23,729 --> 00:30:25,572 right in front of you was a vent 624 00:30:25,731 --> 00:30:27,816 probably 4 foot by 4 foot 625 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:30,819 that led out to the roof, with the louver at the end. 626 00:30:30,903 --> 00:30:34,155 - This is the first time that Timothy Vail realizes 627 00:30:34,249 --> 00:30:37,158 that he may actually make it onto the roof. 628 00:30:37,243 --> 00:30:39,837 But the vent is sealed. 629 00:30:39,996 --> 00:30:43,081 Vail must figure out a way to open the vent. 630 00:30:43,165 --> 00:30:45,000 While back at the cell, 631 00:30:45,084 --> 00:30:47,594 Timothy Morgan is keeping watch. 632 00:30:49,672 --> 00:30:52,007 Morgan is excited they may actually be able 633 00:30:52,091 --> 00:30:54,593 to escape soon. 634 00:30:54,677 --> 00:30:56,520 But there was a problem. 635 00:30:56,679 --> 00:30:58,856 ♪ ♪ 636 00:30:59,015 --> 00:31:01,766 An officer is coming down the hallway. 637 00:31:01,851 --> 00:31:04,528 As he walks past, 638 00:31:04,687 --> 00:31:07,614 will he notice that Timothy Vail is missing, 639 00:31:07,773 --> 00:31:10,200 and there's a dummy in his bed? 640 00:31:13,705 --> 00:31:16,531 - It's tough sometimes, because an inmate's sleeping, 641 00:31:16,624 --> 00:31:19,376 and you don't see his chest rise and fall, 642 00:31:19,535 --> 00:31:21,703 you're supposed to, what, bang the bars and wake him up? 643 00:31:21,796 --> 00:31:23,622 Now you've woken up the next guy. 644 00:31:23,715 --> 00:31:26,041 And then you'd have a bunch of complaints about that. 645 00:31:26,125 --> 00:31:28,293 So, it's tough. 646 00:31:28,377 --> 00:31:30,220 That's why I never liked working midnights. 647 00:31:32,056 --> 00:31:35,225 - The guard walks past the cell looking at Morgan, 648 00:31:35,384 --> 00:31:37,853 never noticing the dummy in Vail's bunk. 649 00:31:40,473 --> 00:31:42,733 Meanwhile, back up in the attic, 650 00:31:42,892 --> 00:31:47,228 Vail uses the only tools he has with him--screws. 651 00:31:47,313 --> 00:31:51,399 - Vail pried away part of that aluminum ductwork. 652 00:31:51,492 --> 00:31:54,319 They peeled it and got inside the ducts. 653 00:31:54,412 --> 00:31:57,748 - But it's getting late, and Vail doesn't want to risk 654 00:31:57,907 --> 00:31:59,908 the guards finding the dummy in his bed. 655 00:32:01,252 --> 00:32:04,880 So he rushes back to his cell before the standing count. 656 00:32:10,762 --> 00:32:13,430 The next night, Timothy Vail continues his search 657 00:32:13,589 --> 00:32:15,256 to reach the roof of the block. 658 00:32:15,341 --> 00:32:19,344 He crawls through the duct he opened last night. 659 00:32:19,437 --> 00:32:22,022 - The end of that ductwork, all that were there were 660 00:32:22,181 --> 00:32:24,849 the blades that go over a duct 661 00:32:24,934 --> 00:32:26,851 to keep animals out. 662 00:32:26,936 --> 00:32:29,854 - They could easily bend those aluminum louvers 663 00:32:29,948 --> 00:32:33,024 and get out on the roof. 664 00:32:33,109 --> 00:32:35,610 - Vail doesn't risk going out onto the roof 665 00:32:35,703 --> 00:32:38,956 because he's afraid they might be found out. 666 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,792 They only have one shot to escape. 667 00:32:41,876 --> 00:32:43,627 He looks through the aluminum louvers 668 00:32:43,786 --> 00:32:47,130 for something they may be able to use to scale the wall 669 00:32:47,289 --> 00:32:50,041 away from the wall tower guard's watchful eyes. 670 00:32:50,134 --> 00:32:52,210 But he doesn't see anything. 671 00:32:52,303 --> 00:32:54,379 - They gotta figure out how they're gonna drop down 672 00:32:54,472 --> 00:32:56,473 40 to 50 feet. 673 00:32:56,632 --> 00:33:00,394 - Timothy Vail needs to find or make something 674 00:33:00,553 --> 00:33:03,888 so they can lower themselves down three stories. 675 00:33:03,982 --> 00:33:05,899 Up until this point, 676 00:33:06,058 --> 00:33:10,478 Timothy Vail has overcome every obstacle with ease. 677 00:33:10,563 --> 00:33:12,572 Will this be the one that ends his dreams 678 00:33:12,732 --> 00:33:14,816 of escaping this hellhole? 679 00:33:14,900 --> 00:33:15,951 ♪ ♪ 680 00:33:21,657 --> 00:33:24,492 - It's been four months since Timothy Vail 681 00:33:24,577 --> 00:33:27,746 started his plan to escape this derelict prison. 682 00:33:27,830 --> 00:33:29,256 He's broken out of his cell 683 00:33:29,340 --> 00:33:31,249 and explored the attic above him 684 00:33:31,333 --> 00:33:33,927 and identified an escape route. 685 00:33:34,086 --> 00:33:36,671 His next step is to figure out 686 00:33:36,756 --> 00:33:39,182 how to climb down from the roof 687 00:33:39,267 --> 00:33:41,977 of the three-story building without being caught. 688 00:33:43,679 --> 00:33:45,856 Plain old bedsheets. 689 00:33:46,015 --> 00:33:48,191 Standard issue for prison escapes, right? 690 00:33:49,852 --> 00:33:53,605 Tie them together like this, make a long rope. 691 00:33:53,698 --> 00:33:55,949 It's not original, but Vail thinks it's the best way 692 00:33:56,034 --> 00:34:00,037 to rappel down the 46-foot brick wall of Elmira Prison. 693 00:34:01,706 --> 00:34:05,366 The only trouble is, between him and his cellmate, 694 00:34:05,451 --> 00:34:07,702 they only have four sheets. 695 00:34:07,787 --> 00:34:09,788 That's nowhere near enough. 696 00:34:09,872 --> 00:34:12,373 ♪ ♪ 697 00:34:12,458 --> 00:34:15,543 - The only sheets that the correctional facility 698 00:34:15,628 --> 00:34:19,056 issue inmates are two white sheets, 699 00:34:19,215 --> 00:34:22,392 but you can get sheets as a package. 700 00:34:22,477 --> 00:34:25,312 The wife can send her husband sheets, or the girlfriend, 701 00:34:25,396 --> 00:34:27,388 or the mother can send them sheets. 702 00:34:27,473 --> 00:34:29,307 Well, if the inmate gets two, 703 00:34:29,391 --> 00:34:32,569 and the other inmate gets two issued to him, 704 00:34:32,728 --> 00:34:35,814 and they each get two in a package-- 705 00:34:35,898 --> 00:34:37,732 So, start adding up the numbers, 706 00:34:37,825 --> 00:34:39,409 they can get more and more sheets. 707 00:34:39,494 --> 00:34:40,985 - There's a limit on what you can have-- 708 00:34:41,079 --> 00:34:44,498 A limit--but honestly, 709 00:34:44,657 --> 00:34:46,833 that might be something that the officer would overlook, 710 00:34:46,992 --> 00:34:48,827 you know what I mean? He'd look and say, "All right, 711 00:34:48,911 --> 00:34:51,246 I'm gonna make a big stink about three extra sheets?" 712 00:34:51,339 --> 00:34:52,756 You know, you're not thinking, 713 00:34:52,915 --> 00:34:54,249 "Okay, he's gonna go through the ceiling 714 00:34:54,333 --> 00:34:55,675 and come down the side." You're thinking, 715 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:57,761 "All right, so what? He's got three extra sheets." 716 00:35:04,268 --> 00:35:06,603 - Anticipating that they may have to make a rope 717 00:35:06,687 --> 00:35:09,606 to climb 40 feet down from the roof of the building, 718 00:35:09,690 --> 00:35:11,942 Timothy Vail and Timothy Morgan 719 00:35:12,026 --> 00:35:16,104 have collected 11 sheets over the past several weeks. 720 00:35:16,188 --> 00:35:20,033 Now, it's time to put the sheets to use. 721 00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:22,443 They fashion a rope by knotting the sheets together 722 00:35:22,528 --> 00:35:25,539 and reinforcing the knots with packing tape. 723 00:35:25,698 --> 00:35:27,365 They test its strength 724 00:35:27,449 --> 00:35:29,284 by tying it around the bars of their cell 725 00:35:29,368 --> 00:35:31,286 and pulling as hard as they can. 726 00:35:31,370 --> 00:35:33,204 Hopefully, it's strong enough 727 00:35:33,289 --> 00:35:36,049 and long enough for them to scale the wall. 728 00:35:36,208 --> 00:35:39,970 Now, they're ready to make their escape plan a reality. 729 00:35:46,894 --> 00:35:48,895 The 10:30 p.m. count has just passed, 730 00:35:49,054 --> 00:35:50,605 and the lights are out. 731 00:35:53,484 --> 00:35:55,393 It's go time. 732 00:35:55,477 --> 00:35:57,821 ♪ ♪ 733 00:35:57,980 --> 00:35:59,823 They put their dummies in their beds 734 00:35:59,907 --> 00:36:01,733 and strip down to their underwear. 735 00:36:01,826 --> 00:36:05,236 - They rub their bodies down with kind of a grease, 736 00:36:05,321 --> 00:36:08,748 kind of a lubricant that would ease the passage through, 737 00:36:08,833 --> 00:36:11,418 because they made the hole just barely big enough 738 00:36:11,577 --> 00:36:13,587 so they could squeeze through. 739 00:36:13,671 --> 00:36:17,165 - And they described how they had to lift one arm higher 740 00:36:17,249 --> 00:36:21,344 and one arm lower and change the diameter, 741 00:36:21,503 --> 00:36:24,014 or the width of their shoulders, 742 00:36:24,098 --> 00:36:26,016 to allow them to squeeze through that little hole. 743 00:36:28,177 --> 00:36:29,844 - The night they actually left, 744 00:36:29,929 --> 00:36:31,938 Vail went first. He's the smaller guy. 745 00:36:32,097 --> 00:36:34,265 And according to their story, too, that's what they also say. 746 00:36:34,358 --> 00:36:37,360 He clears the way. Makes sure everything's good. 747 00:36:37,519 --> 00:36:39,354 They get through. They had a bucket 748 00:36:39,438 --> 00:36:41,865 with some soapy water that they wash up with, 749 00:36:42,024 --> 00:36:45,285 try and get the Vaseline off themselves. 750 00:36:45,444 --> 00:36:49,164 They put their clothes back on and go into the vent. 751 00:36:50,950 --> 00:36:53,785 Bend the louvers out, get out onto the roof. 752 00:36:53,878 --> 00:36:57,547 [uneasy music] 753 00:37:01,636 --> 00:37:03,294 - They did not know 754 00:37:03,387 --> 00:37:06,214 what they were gonna be able to attach their sheets 755 00:37:06,298 --> 00:37:09,059 tied in a rope to when they got on the roof. 756 00:37:09,143 --> 00:37:12,062 It turns out the roof is two--is multi-level, 757 00:37:12,146 --> 00:37:14,472 and to get from the lower section to the upper section, 758 00:37:14,565 --> 00:37:17,558 there's about a three or four-rung ladder 759 00:37:17,652 --> 00:37:19,736 attached to the brick wall. 760 00:37:19,895 --> 00:37:21,145 And they get up there and said, 761 00:37:21,230 --> 00:37:24,899 "Sheesh, the prison gods are shining on us tonight. 762 00:37:24,984 --> 00:37:28,245 There's a ladder for us to tie on to right over the edge." 763 00:37:28,404 --> 00:37:30,497 - The area where they decide to descend 764 00:37:30,581 --> 00:37:32,999 is obscured from the guard tower. 765 00:37:33,158 --> 00:37:34,417 The only thing standing 766 00:37:34,576 --> 00:37:36,828 between the escapees and freedom 767 00:37:36,912 --> 00:37:40,215 is a 46-foot climb down their makeshift rope. 768 00:37:42,426 --> 00:37:44,010 - Morgan looked over the edge and said, 769 00:37:44,169 --> 00:37:45,553 "I'm not going down there. 770 00:37:47,431 --> 00:37:49,516 I'm not going down that rope. You are crazy." 771 00:37:49,675 --> 00:37:51,342 It was a long ways down. 772 00:37:51,427 --> 00:37:54,437 So, Morgan chickens out. He doesn't want to go. 773 00:37:54,522 --> 00:37:57,941 He talks about retracing his steps 774 00:37:58,025 --> 00:38:00,018 and going back to get in his bunk. 775 00:38:00,102 --> 00:38:01,519 "This is over, as far as I'm concerned." 776 00:38:01,603 --> 00:38:04,447 Vail talks him into, "No, I'll show you how to do it." 777 00:38:06,859 --> 00:38:09,944 - Vail begins his descent. 778 00:38:10,029 --> 00:38:12,455 At first, it looks easy for him. 779 00:38:13,874 --> 00:38:16,710 But halfway down the wall, disaster strikes. 780 00:38:16,869 --> 00:38:19,379 - He got his arm caught in the rope when he was coming down, 781 00:38:19,463 --> 00:38:21,539 and when he was trying to free it... 782 00:38:21,623 --> 00:38:24,301 ♪ ♪ 783 00:38:24,385 --> 00:38:27,387 [thudding] 784 00:38:27,546 --> 00:38:29,556 He fell like 25, 30 feet. 785 00:38:29,715 --> 00:38:31,641 [dramatic musical sting] 786 00:38:34,562 --> 00:38:37,230 - So that left Morgan up on the roof, 787 00:38:37,389 --> 00:38:38,648 looking down at Vail. 788 00:38:38,733 --> 00:38:41,818 He's trying to talk to him, but he can't yell 789 00:38:41,977 --> 00:38:45,063 because inside that wall are officers. 790 00:38:45,156 --> 00:38:48,491 So he can't yell out to him. And Vail's not moving. 791 00:38:48,576 --> 00:38:51,828 [dark music] 792 00:38:51,987 --> 00:38:54,122 Morgan's contemplating, "What do I do?" 793 00:38:56,825 --> 00:39:00,161 - For all Morgan knows, Vail is dead. 794 00:39:00,245 --> 00:39:01,662 [intense music] 795 00:39:01,756 --> 00:39:03,498 Does he go back to his cell, 796 00:39:03,582 --> 00:39:06,176 or does he try to make it down the sheet ladder 797 00:39:06,260 --> 00:39:09,337 and risk the same fate as Vail? 798 00:39:09,430 --> 00:39:12,006 Either way, at this moment, 799 00:39:12,091 --> 00:39:14,309 the escape looks dead in the water. 800 00:39:25,279 --> 00:39:27,939 - Timothy Vail's body lies lifeless at the bottom 801 00:39:28,032 --> 00:39:31,201 of the walls of Elmira Correctional Facility. 802 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:34,612 His partner in crime, Timothy Morgan, 803 00:39:34,696 --> 00:39:37,115 is scared that he will suffer the same fate 804 00:39:37,199 --> 00:39:39,876 going down the homemade sheet ladder. 805 00:39:40,035 --> 00:39:41,869 - Morgan's contemplating, "What do I do?" 806 00:39:41,954 --> 00:39:44,798 Do I climb back in the air duct, 807 00:39:44,882 --> 00:39:46,541 back into the attic, 808 00:39:46,625 --> 00:39:49,627 and try to squeeze myself through the hole? 809 00:39:49,711 --> 00:39:51,963 After a while, he's like, "I've gotta make a decision. 810 00:39:52,047 --> 00:39:53,631 I've gotta make a decision." 811 00:39:53,715 --> 00:39:57,135 And he grabbed on to the rope, and he went down. 812 00:39:57,219 --> 00:40:01,472 ♪ ♪ 813 00:40:01,557 --> 00:40:03,641 Because he was so scared, he actually hung on 814 00:40:03,725 --> 00:40:05,143 and made it all the way down. 815 00:40:05,227 --> 00:40:06,986 - At this point, Vail comes to. 816 00:40:07,071 --> 00:40:10,314 But he's seriously injured. 817 00:40:10,399 --> 00:40:13,159 He has a fractured shoulder, chest injuries, 818 00:40:13,318 --> 00:40:15,653 and a sprained ankle. 819 00:40:15,746 --> 00:40:17,914 He isn't going to be able to run into the woods 820 00:40:17,998 --> 00:40:20,250 like they planned. 821 00:40:20,409 --> 00:40:22,585 - They sat there for a good period of time, 822 00:40:22,744 --> 00:40:24,745 you know, maybe up to an hour or more, 823 00:40:24,839 --> 00:40:27,424 Vail trying to recover from this fall. 824 00:40:30,094 --> 00:40:33,004 [punchy music] 825 00:40:33,097 --> 00:40:36,182 - After four months of tedious painstaking work, 826 00:40:36,267 --> 00:40:40,011 the inmates are free, but Vail can barely walk, 827 00:40:40,095 --> 00:40:43,356 and they are unsure of what to do next. 828 00:40:43,441 --> 00:40:45,516 - They had no plan after they got out, 829 00:40:45,609 --> 00:40:47,360 which is mind boggling 830 00:40:47,519 --> 00:40:49,353 that they would spend all that time with this plan 831 00:40:49,447 --> 00:40:51,856 and then not have the exit plan once they get out. 832 00:40:51,940 --> 00:40:53,533 I mean, had they had somebody 833 00:40:53,617 --> 00:40:55,610 on the outside there with a vehicle, 834 00:40:55,694 --> 00:40:57,036 they could have just walked down the hill, 835 00:40:57,196 --> 00:40:59,030 jumped in the vehicle. 836 00:40:59,114 --> 00:41:00,615 Maybe they thought they could just go down 837 00:41:00,708 --> 00:41:03,117 and steal a car, and away they go. 838 00:41:03,202 --> 00:41:05,753 But I don't think they were planning on Vail getting hurt. 839 00:41:09,291 --> 00:41:10,884 - Vail recovers just enough 840 00:41:10,968 --> 00:41:13,303 to make their way into the nearby town 841 00:41:13,462 --> 00:41:16,306 and then into the surrounding woods. 842 00:41:24,482 --> 00:41:27,808 [alarm blares] 843 00:41:27,893 --> 00:41:29,560 - Vail and Morgan have been found missing 844 00:41:29,645 --> 00:41:31,321 from their cells. 845 00:41:31,480 --> 00:41:34,324 The inmates have a four-hour head start. 846 00:41:35,234 --> 00:41:36,743 - When we saw the rope, we knew indeed 847 00:41:36,902 --> 00:41:38,486 that they had gotten out. 848 00:41:38,570 --> 00:41:40,738 - A search mission mounts. 849 00:41:40,822 --> 00:41:43,166 Roads are blocked, helicopters deployed. 850 00:41:44,251 --> 00:41:46,002 Anyone and everyone 851 00:41:46,086 --> 00:41:48,796 are looking for these two escaped convicts. 852 00:41:52,843 --> 00:41:54,335 [dramatic music] 853 00:41:54,419 --> 00:41:55,595 After a day in the woods, 854 00:41:55,679 --> 00:41:58,264 Vail is starting to succumb to his wounds. 855 00:41:58,349 --> 00:42:00,850 He has to get off his feet. 856 00:42:01,009 --> 00:42:03,344 Morgan and Vail decide their best bet 857 00:42:03,428 --> 00:42:07,607 is to try and steal a vehicle so they can leave the area. 858 00:42:07,691 --> 00:42:09,684 - They eventually stole a van. 859 00:42:09,768 --> 00:42:13,363 It was reported, and the van was spotted a short time later 860 00:42:13,522 --> 00:42:15,532 right outside a supermarket in Horseheads. 861 00:42:15,691 --> 00:42:17,283 They were cornered by state police 862 00:42:17,368 --> 00:42:19,536 and gave up peacefully, and that was it. 863 00:42:19,620 --> 00:42:22,705 [dramatic chords] 864 00:42:24,783 --> 00:42:26,701 - Timothy Vail is sent 865 00:42:26,785 --> 00:42:29,337 to the maximum-security prison in Dannemora... 866 00:42:30,539 --> 00:42:33,124 Home of another famous prison break. 867 00:42:33,208 --> 00:42:35,385 But that's another story. 868 00:42:36,628 --> 00:42:40,807 He won't be eligible for parole until 2041. 869 00:42:40,966 --> 00:42:44,561 His former cellmate and co-conspirator, Timothy Morgan 870 00:42:44,720 --> 00:42:48,648 is sent to Auburn Correctional Facility, 871 00:42:48,732 --> 00:42:51,568 and won't get out before 2035. 872 00:42:52,987 --> 00:42:56,489 And to make sure neither of them cooks up another escape, 873 00:42:56,574 --> 00:42:59,075 they're both held in solitary confinement, 874 00:42:59,234 --> 00:43:02,203 23 hours a day, seven days a week. 875 00:43:03,905 --> 00:43:06,874 They're going nowhere for a long, long time.