Joyce Mitchell Arrested After Allegedly Aiding Prison Break

Joyce Mitchell has been arrested for allegedly helping prisoners escape an upstate New York facility. For her alleged actions in what has been termed a Shawshank Redemption style prison break, Mitchell has been accused and faces prison time.

Two convicted killers, David Sweat and Richard Matt, allegedly used conventional construction supplies that police say Mitchell brought in for them. Their escape was successfully made in the early morning of June 6, and they remain at large.

The two convicts had allegedly cut their way out of their Clinton Correctional Facility cells, made their way through the works of the building, and climbed down through a manhole. This was allegedly made possible with hacksaw blades, chisels, a punch, and a screwdriver bit which authorities claim Mitchell brought into the facility around noon on May 1, according to NBC News.

Before the convicts allegedly did what got Joyce Mitchell arrested, they had worked in the prison tailor shop where she taught. Sources claim that Richard Matt had charmed her to the point where she thought she was in love, and she had agreed to be their getaway driver. She later decided against helping them escape by vehicle, possibly because she was already married.

Mitchell has since been suspended without pay.

On Friday night, New York State Police Major Charles Guess told the press about the revelation of Mitchell’s alleged aid.

“Our interviews with Joyce Mitchell have been fruitful and productive. We’re satisfied and we would not have charged her today if we were not satisfied with the productivity of those interviews.”

“This is one large piece of the puzzle in the quest to find the escaped murderers.”

“We have a message for David Sweat and Richard Matt. We’re coming for you and we will not stop until you are caught.”

Says Yahoo News, after Joyce Mitchell was arrested, she was charged with a felony count of promoting prison contraband in the first degree and a misdemeanor count of criminal facilitation in the fourth degree. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the felony.

Mitchell is being held on a $100,000 bail and will go before the judge on Monday morning.

[Image via Handout / Getty Images]