Prison Chronicles on History explores the stories within the walls of the Clinton Correctional Facility, nicknamed “Dannemora,” located in the Adirondack mountains. The episode highlights three remarkable tales from this foreboding prison, including a hostage situation, a superstar prisoner, and a daring escape attempt.
First, the episode recounts the story of Kenneth Kimes, a desperate convict who took a Court TV producer hostage. It then shifts to the impact of superstar prisoner Tupac Shakur within the prison walls.
Finally, the episode examines the escape attempt of two murderers, Richard Matt and David Sweat. In 2015, convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, New York. The pair had plotted their escape for months, cutting holes in the steel at the backs of their cells and smuggling in tools with the help of prison employees Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer. Matt and Sweat climbed through the holes in their cell walls on the night of June 5, 2015, and made their way out of the prison.
However, their plan began to fall apart when Mitchell failed to meet them at the rendezvous point with a car and supplies. The two convicts were forced to flee towards the Canadian border on foot. Despite being described as “dangerous, dangerous men” by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, Matt and Sweat managed to evade capture for several weeks. Matt was eventually killed, and Sweat was shot and captured alive by police 48 hours later.
Through interviews and first-hand accounts, Prison Chronicles offers an authentic glimpse into the unique history of this icy prison, its infamous inmates, and the events that have shaped its legacy.
Prison Chronicles: Dannemora airs on History on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 10:36 PM.
