NCJ Number
181698
Journal
Corrections Technology and Management Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: January/February 2000 Pages: 14-17
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the escape from death row attempted by seven death-row inmates at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Ellis Unit in Huntsville, as well as the findings and recommendations of the review panel following the incident.
Abstract
Six of the inmates managed to get as far as the perimeter fences before giving up after being fired upon by officers in observation towers. One inmate, Martin Gurule, scaled the outer perimeter fence and ran into the wooded area adjacent to the prison. He was found dead, having drowned in a small body of water within the contained search area. According to an exhaustive investigative report of the incident, the inmates had prepared for the escape by constructing dummies from papers, books, and extra clothing items and then placing the makeshift mannequins in their beds. Later, in the recreation yard, the inmates moved to the top of the facility, using the metal security lattice over the windows as if it were a ladder. They cut a 6-inch-by-36-inch opening in the upper corner of the structure's chain-link fence using a hacksaw blade with a wooden handle. This allowed the inmates to climb onto the roof and remain out of sight as the other inmates were taken back into the cell block area. They subsequently climbed onto an adjacent roof by using the metal lattice window coverings and then crawled almost 700 feet to a point near the chapel. They eventually dropped 14 feet to the ground, where they waited for an opportunity to run toward the perimeter fencing. All of the inmates managed to make it over the inner perimeter fence, which was 10 feet high and topped with razor wire. The escape was interrupted when two officers in towers spotted the escaping inmates and began firing at them, causing six of the seven to surrender. The review of the escape attempt made design recommendations to address institutional design weaknesses, including a camera and motion detection system to monitor movement on the roof, additional lighting fixtures on existing poles and new poles, bolt Lexan over the outside of selected windows, secure ladders on the roof with surrounding cages kept locked, additional razor wire around the entire perimeter, two rows of razor wire along the roof edge bordering the recreation area, and additional pickets to monitor the recreational areas.