Escape at Dannemora is a gripping crime drama that first debuted on Showtime on November 18, 2018, and is currently available for streaming on Netflix. This captivating series dramatizes a notorious prison break orchestrated by two convicted murderers with the aid of a female staff member at the correctional facility.
The narrative of Escape at Dannemora is inspired by the true events of a 2015 breakout at the Clinton Correctional Facility.
However, some narratives portrayed in the series have faced criticism from one of the involved parties. In a December 22, 2018, New York Post interview, Joyce Mitchell claimed that the series inaccurately depicted her character. She specifically contested the portrayal of her as being romantically linked to the escapees, which she asserts is not true.
Escape at Dannemora: A dramatization rooted in true events
This actual prison escape took place on June 6, 2015, when convicted murderers Richart Matt and David Sweat were found missing during a bed check at 5:17 am.
Investigation revealed that the pair effectively utilized a hacksaw and drill bits to breach the walls of their cells. Following this, they created an opening in a steam pipe, which facilitated their entry into the municipal sewer system as a means of fleeing.
The duo evaded capture for a span of three weeks until Richard Matt was fatally shot during a confrontation with law enforcement in Malone, New York. Subsequently, David Sweat was wounded by police and apprehended shortly after.
Assistance during the escape came from two prison employees. Joyce Mitchell, portrayed by Patricia Arquette in the series, and Gene Palmer, who confessed to smuggling the escape tools in return for Richard Matt’s artwork.
Joyce Mitchell’s remarks on Escape at Dannemora
Joyce’s discussions with the New York Post unfolded over two extensive sessions, each lasting about 45 minutes, during her incarceration at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. She expressed stark disapproval of director Ben Stiller, criticizing him for the alleged inaccuracies regarding her portrayal.
Particularly, she was upset over the depiction of a romantic relationship with the convicts, stating:
“I never had s*x with them. Ben Stiller is a son-of-a-b*tch liar just like the rest of the world. He doesn’t care about the truth. All he cares about is making millions off me. He’s an idiot.”
While Joyce confirmed that she supplied the hacksaw blades and drill bits to Matt and Sweat, she maintained that her actions stemmed from fear rather than any romantic motivations. She did, however, admit to sending explicit photos of herself to David Sweat and suggested that her engagement with Matt was coerced.
She had previously mentioned to investigators that her involvement in the inmates’ escape was driven by a fantasy of commencing a new life with them—a notion she now renounces.
Interestingly, none of the actors or production team members paid her a visit in prison, with Joyce speculating that this is indicative of a preference for sensationalized narratives over the truth.
Audiences can delve into the fascinating story of Escape at Dannemora on Netflix.
Leave a Reply