Fugitive Who Escaped Alcatraz Writes a Note After 55 Years — What It Says Will Surprise You

Is there anything more daunting than being imprisoned in Alcatraz? This infamous maximum-security facility was located on a remote island, designed to contain and isolate America’s most dangerous criminals. Known as the home of master schemers and violent felons, its reputation made escaping seem impossible.

However, three inmates defied the odds, escaping both the prison’s walls and its icy coastal waters. While official reports claim they perished during the swim, a recent letter has reignited questions about their fate.

Frank Lee Morris, the mastermind behind Alcatraz’s Great Escape, was no ordinary criminal. Clever, resourceful, and ingenious, he honed his survival skills early in life after being orphaned at just 11 years old.

His turbulent childhood left its mark, and by age 13, Morris had already been convicted of a felony. Despite his brilliant mind hinting at a promising future, destiny took a darker turn. Instead of achieving fame, Morris earned infamy as the ringleader of the daring Alcatraz escape.

Frank Lee Morris’s criminal career began in his teenage years, leading him through several penitentiaries across the country. His journey took a pivotal turn when he was sent to the notorious Louisiana State Penitentiary, known as the “Alcatraz of the South.”

There, Morris escaped while serving a ten-year sentence for bank robbery, possibly seeing it as a practice run after spending a year outwitting law enforcement. Captured once again, he was transferred to the infamous Alcatraz, where the real story of his daring escape begins.

Upon arriving at Alcatraz, Frank Lee Morris encountered two brothers, Clarence and John Anglin, who would later become crucial members of his escape plan. The Anglins, originally from Georgia, had moved to Florida for work, with their parents following soon after.

Unlike Morris’s troubled past, their childhood was relatively normal, and they often spent summers picking cherries together. Morris and the Anglin brothers eventually recruited Allen West, forming a four-man squad. Together, these men would attempt the most daring escape in Alcatraz’s history.

Clarence and John Anglin were inseparable growing up, a bond as strong as thieves (pun intended). Their family often traveled as far as Michigan to pick cherries, where they swam in the state’s lakes, strengthening their connection and unknowingly preparing for their future escape. Despite their idyllic childhood, the Anglin brothers shared a darker side.

In 1956, they were arrested for bank robbery, but their capture marked only the beginning of their notorious story. Their criminal journey would soon lead them to Alcatraz, where their bond would play a key role in their daring escape attempt.

Before joining forces with Frank Lee Morris, the Anglin brothers had already faced their share of setbacks. They had attempted multiple escapes from the Atlanta Penitentiary, but each time, they were thwarted. Their rebellious behavior led to their transfer to Alcatraz, where they would meet their eventual escape partners.

Once united with Morris and Allen West, the four men became an experienced and determined team, each bringing unique skills to the table. Together, they devised a daring plan to break free from the world’s most secure prison, using their knowledge of the system and their resourcefulness.

The escape plan seemed simple: break out of Alcatraz and swim to the mainland. In theory, it was a straightforward idea, but it was nearly impossible in practice. Previous attempts had claimed the lives of 36 inmates, leaving many to question why this time would be different.

To succeed, Frank Lee Morris, the Anglin brothers, and Allen West must rely on their collective experience, creativity, and unwavering trust in each other. Despite being labeled insane by fellow inmates, the team saw the fine line between madness and genius, ready to risk everything to walk it.

Ironically, all four convicts — Frank Lee Morris, Clarence and John Anglin, and Allen West — had served time in the Atlanta Penitentiary before being transferred to Alcatraz. Their shared past likely helped build the trust and camaraderie needed to execute such a bold plan. Whether they were already familiar with each other or simply bonded over their similar backgrounds, the proximity of their cells allowed them to collaborate closely.

With ample time to strategize, they pooled their brains and resources, determined to make the seemingly impossible escape a reality. Success depended on every detail; they were committed to making it work.

While stuck in their cells at Alcatraz, the four men had limited access to resources, but they found a clever way around it. Alcatraz also operated as a factory where inmates worked for the U.S. Army, producing clothes, furnishings, and shoes. This gave the escapees access to valuable materials they could use in their escape plan.

Because they were incarcerated for non-violent crimes, the guards paid little attention to them, allowing them to maintain a low profile. With their intelligence and creativity, they leveraged these opportunities to gather everything needed for their daring escape.

The four men carefully and methodically began implementing their escape plan, understanding that pulling off such an audacious feat required skill, patience, and meticulous intelligence. They knew their disappearance would be quickly noticed, so they created life-sized dummies to place in their beds, making it appear as though they were still inside.

But getting off the island was just as critical — if they were caught, they would die instantly, as the wardens of the time were ruthless. Therefore, they focused on every detail of their plan, knowing the stakes were incredibly high.

Each member of the escape team had a specific role to play in ensuring the success of their daring plan. The Anglin brothers were crucial in crafting the life-sized dummy heads for all four prisoners, using materials like soap wax, real hair from the prison barbershop, and toilet paper.

Meanwhile, Frank Lee Morris focused on designing an inflatable raft and life jacket, using whatever resources he could gather. With each member contributing their unique skills, they slowly pieced together all the necessary components, steadily moving toward executing their remarkable escape.

Each night, from around 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., the escapees embarked on a physically demanding task: gradually nibbling away at the rock walls of their cells to access the ventilation system. Using stolen spoons or bits of wood gathered from their day jobs, they carefully removed the grates and chipped away at the stone, always looking for guards.

This painstaking process was the most time-consuming part of their plan, taking months of persistent work. They chipped away at the rock every night, inching closer to freedom.

Even by the 1960s, Alcatraz was already an aging and deteriorating facility. Saltwater from the showers and dishwashing routines had slowly corroded the pipes, and over time, the water seeped into the walls, softening them. The escapees took full advantage of this decay, carefully observing the weaker spots in the structure.

Their task became progressively easier as they focused on nibbling away at these softened areas. With the building’s erosion working in their favor, they made steady progress — something unlikely to happen in modern prisons today.

You might wonder how they managed to hide the noise of all that chipping. In the 1960s, prison reform legislation allowed inmates to have music hours in their cells, and the escapees cleverly exploited this. Frank Lee Morris would play his accordion loudly every night.

As they made more progress, he played louder to cover their efforts. While the music must have annoyed the other prisoners, it was the least of their concerns as they worked through an unsecured corridor lined with pipes.

Behind the cells, an unsecured utility corridor provided the escapees with a crucial passageway. After eroding the walls in their cells enough to create a large enough opening, they accessed the corridor and climbed three flights of stairs to reach the roof. At this point, their plan hinged on a stroke of luck.

They discovered that one of the shafts leading to the roof had not been cemented over. Knowing this, they began working to open it, knowing that reaching the roof was their final hurdle before freedom. It was a delicate task that required precision and a bit of faith.

By May 1962, after months of meticulous work, the Anglin siblings and Frank Lee Morris were ready to break through their cell walls. The holes they created were small, barely large enough to crawl through, but they were all needed to begin the escape.

The team worked tirelessly to stitch together 50 raincoats, transforming them into rafts and life vests. These makeshift flotation devices were essential — without them, the escapees would never survive the treacherous swim across the cold, turbulent waters of the bay.

By June, two months after the others had prepared to escape, Allen West had finally completed the hole in his cell wall. The walls on his side had proven more challenging to break through, but he was now ready.

He signaled to the others, and it seemed like the escape was finally set. However, just as they were about to proceed, something unexpected happened that could have derailed the entire plan.

No one had ever successfully escaped from Alcatraz, and the men knew they were about to either make history or join a long list of failed inmates who never made it out alive. Life on the island was as harsh as death itself, so they decided to take the ultimate gamble.

With adrenaline surging and the necessary tools in hand, they set up their decoys, prepared their makeshift raft and life vests, and steeled themselves for the dangerous journey ahead. The moment of truth had arrived.

While Morris and the Anglin brothers escaped through their holes without issue, Allen West encountered a setback. Despite months of hard work, his hole was still too small, and his attempts to fix it were unsuccessful. The others, growing impatient after hours of trying to help, decided to leave him behind.

The emotional toll on West must have been immense — having put so much effort into the escape, only to be left behind. Did he save himself by staying, or did he condemn his fate? Only time will tell.

Leaving Allen behind must have been a gut-wrenching decision for the trio — an emotional first challenge in a long series of difficulties. Once they made the painful decision, Morris and the Anglin brothers began their ascent, scaling 30 feet of plumbing to reach the roof.

The latch they had previously identified as unsecured was their only route to freedom, but now they faced an uncertain question: Was it still open, or had the guards discovered their plan?

With adrenaline fueling them, the Anglin siblings and Frank Lee Morris reached the top of the Alcatraz cell house, a daunting 100-foot climb that felt like the last hurdle. The view from the roof must have been breathtaking, but there was no time for awe — only survival. They made their way across the outside piping.

Their descent led them near the shower blocks, where they skillfully evaded the guards’ watchful eyes. The hardest part of their journey was still ahead — reaching the shore and inflating their raft.

On the night of June 11, 1962, Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers, John and Clarence, set out into the dark waters surrounding Alcatraz, never to be heard from again. The following morning, guards discovered the decoys in their cells, sparking an immediate alarm.

As news of the escape spread, disbelief rippled through the prison. Never before had anyone successfully escaped from “The Rock.” The authorities were left with questions: Did the trio survive the treacherous waters, or were they lost to the sea?

After months of preparation, Allen West finally made it through the hole in his cell wall, just like his fellow escapees. However, by the time he emerged, the Anglin brothers and Frank Lee Morris had already reached the roof and entered the waters. Now, on the brink of freedom, West faced a heartbreaking dilemma.

With no raft to navigate the dangerous currents, he had two choices: risk swimming across the treacherous waters or retreating to his cell’s safety. As close as he was to freedom, West chose to turn back.

Allen West’s decision to turn back from freedom would haunt him forever. Faced with the perilous swim across rough waters without his fellow escapees, West chose survival. As the days passed, his isolation led him to confess everything to the authorities.

He detailed the escape plan, including reaching Angel Island, stealing clothes, and separating to avoid capture. But did the guards believe him? The story, though well-organized, seemed improbable. While some authorities accepted his version, others were skeptical.

For 12 days, San Francisco police remained on high alert, anticipating a car theft as part of the escape plan outlined by Allen West. However, no such theft occurred. The absence of the theft raised suspicions that they may have had another plan or didn’t make it past the waters.

The situation baffled the guards. Despite the precision of the escape, the outcome remained unclear. The lack of concrete evidence and Allen West’s conflicting story deepened the mystery.

Despite an extensive search of the waters around Alcatraz, no bodies were found, leading many to believe the escapees might have made it to safety. A few personal items matching those from Alcatraz were discovered, suggesting they escaped. A key theory surrounding their escape was the likelihood of survival.

The cold waters of San Francisco Bay are notoriously frigid, and it’s believed a person can survive only about 20 minutes in such conditions. Given the prisoners’ lack of preparation for the cold, doubts arose about their ability to survive the swim.

In 1979, after 17 years of investigation, the FBI closed the Alcatraz escape case, concluding that the prisoners likely drowned in the cold waters of San Francisco Bay. Despite no bodies being found, there were no signs to confirm the escapees had made it to shore.

However, the U.S. Marshals kept an active warrant for the trio for many years. In 2009, a Deputy Marshal stated in an NPR interview, “There is an active warrant, and the Marshals Service is not known for giving up.” No substantial evidence has emerged.

About a month after the Alcatraz escape, a freighter reported spotting a body 17 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, possibly one of the escapees. The body was said to be wearing clothes similar to those worn by the prisoners, but the report was deferred, and the body was never recovered or verified.

In 2014, researchers suggested that San Francisco Bay’s midnight currents might have helped the escapees survive, allowing them to reach the shore.

In 2015, a History Channel documentary revealed new evidence suggesting the Anglin brothers survived their Alcatraz escape. The Anglin family reportedly received a Christmas card in the 1970s, postmarked from outside the U.S. and signed by the brothers. Forensic experts confirmed the handwriting matched John and Clarence’s.

Additionally, a 1975 photo showed two men in Brazil who resembled the brothers. Experts believed they could be the escapees, supporting the theory they evaded capture and lived in secrecy abroad.

Robert Anglin, the brothers’ sibling, confessed on his deathbed to being in contact with John and Clarence between 1963 and 1987, strengthening the theory they survived the Alcatraz escape. He claimed they communicated over the years but eventually lost touch.

Despite this, other family members reportedly chose not to search for the brothers, likely due to the ongoing Interpol investigation and the risk of severe punishment if found. This suggests the Anglins managed to stay hidden for decades.

In January 2018, the San Francisco Police Department revealed a surprising letter from John Anglin, sent in 2013 but not received by the FBI until five years later. The delayed arrival sparked renewed public interest in the Alcatraz escape, raising questions about why the letter had been withheld.

In the letter, Anglin confessed that he, his brother Clarence, and Frank Lee Morris had survived the escape and lived in hiding. He also offered to surrender in exchange for medical treatment, as he was in failing health.

In 2013, John Anglin sent a letter to the San Francisco Police Department, revealing shocking details about the fates of the three escapees. He claimed that he, his brother Clarence, and Frank Morris successfully escaped Alcatraz in 1962.

Frank died in 2008, and Clarence died in 2011. John, now 83 and suffering from cancer, revealed that he was living in hiding. Although the exact location was not disclosed, the letter suggested that John continued to live in seclusion.

In the letter, the writer, claiming to be John Anglin, mentioned that he had spent seven years living in Minot, North Dakota, and another year in Fargo, North Dakota, after escaping Alcatraz. The writer went on to say, “This is the honest and real truth.”

While some parts of the letter were illegible, BBC analysis suggested that the writer may have spent a significant portion of his life in Seattle, Washington, after the escape. This revelation adds more intrigue to the mystery.

The letter revealed that the writer, claiming to be John Anglin, was now living in Southern California, just miles away from where he had once escaped. This shocking revelation raises the possibility that one of history’s most notorious escapees had been living so close to the authorities all along.

The letter also mentions that Anglin was in poor health, suffering from cancer, and was seeking help, even suggesting he might return to prison during his final years.

The conclusion of the letter raised many more questions, as it included a bold proposition: the writer claimed he would reveal his exact location if authorities promised he would serve no more than a year in prison and receive medical care.

This unusual offer left law enforcement in a dilemma. Why would someone, especially a man in his final days, seek to return to prison after living in hiding for decades? Forensic tests would need to be conducted to verify the authenticity of the letter.

The FBI carefully examined the letter for any potential evidence, such as DNA or fingerprints, and compared the handwriting with previous letters allegedly written by John Anglin. Despite their efforts, the forensic tests provided no conclusive results.

The FBI’s response to the situation remained unclear, leaving experts divided on whether they had gathered definitive findings. This ambiguity only fueled further speculation and uncertainty about the letter’s authenticity and whether the infamous escapees had truly lived to see their later years in freedom.

The U.S. Marshal Service has maintained that while the possibility of survival after the escape remains open, they do not consider the letter to be genuine. Their official stance is that the investigation will remain open until definitive proof of the men’s deaths is uncovered.

This approach ensures that resources are not wasted on a fruitless search for individuals who may have already passed away. Currently, no concrete evidence has emerged to confirm whether the escapees are alive, leaving the mystery of their fate unresolved.

In March 2018, Jim Albright, a former Alcatraz guard, gave an exclusive interview to ABC7. Speaking 55 years after the event, Albright firmly stated his belief that the Anglin brothers and Frank Lee Morris must have drowned in the cold waters of San Francisco Bay. He further explained, “It depends on whether you’re talking to me or you’re talking to their mother.”

He continued, “I believe they drowned, I really do.” Albright speculated that someone in desperate need of medical treatment likely wrote the letter supposedly from John Anglin.

The mystery surrounding the escape of Frank Lee Morris and the Anglin brothers continues to captivate people to this day. Decades later, the unanswered question of whether they survived continues to fascinate, fueling endless speculation.

It remains one of the greatest unsolved prison break stories. The evidence is murky, with conflicting theories and no definitive proof either way. New pieces of information occasionally surface, but they only deepen the intrigue, leaving the world to wonder if the truth will ever come to light.

While the absence of conclusive evidence leaves room for speculation, the possibility that they successfully escaped and lived out their days in freedom captures the imagination.

This tantalizing idea adds an enduring layer of intrigue to their daring escape, keeping their story alive in the realm of mystery and legend. Against all odds, they may have successfully eluded capture and begun a new chapter far from the prison walls.