Tony Clark: New findings about the escape of the Texas Seven

Tony Clark

Tony Clark is CNN's national correspondent based in Dallas.

CNN Moderator: New findings have been released about the details of the escape of the so-called Texas Seven. What facts are now known?

Tony Clark: The details given out today show how the inmates were able to overpower prison employees one by one, and take them hostage. It also shows how some prison employees failed to follow procedures and other prison activities were lax, which allowed the escape to occur.

The report today indicates there is no evidence of any inside help in the escape.

CNN Moderator: What is known about security lapses?

Tony Clark: There were instances where a recreation officer observed inmates unsupervised, and did not inform anyone. At one point, a fire alarm was activated, and there was very little investigation. The third, and perhaps most critical safety lapse, was when a guard at one of the towers allowed an inmate, who was dressed in civilian clothes, to get through the gate without being properly identified. That allowed other inmates access to the tower, and to guns, and to escape.

CNN Moderator: How was the Incident Review Team able to piece together the information to determine what happened?

MESSAGE BOARD Violence in America     CONTACT Anyone with information on the fugitives should call Crime Stoppers Anonymous 1 (800) 737-8143   RESOURCES Read the memo detailing the prison escape (PDF) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader Profiles of the escapees   INTERACTIVE Interactive map of the Texas manhunt

Tony Clark: They interviewed a number of witnesses, primarily people who were prison employees, who became hostages. They said the people who know the most about the details of the escape and the plan for the escape were the inmates themselves. So there are still holes in the information the prison officials have. They don't have all the information.

CNN Moderator: Is it known how these seven became associated with each other and how they may have coordinated this escape?

Tony Clark: Officials believe that inmate George Rivas handpicked the inmates, and that the planning went back for quite some time.

CNN Moderator: Pay for Texas prison guards is 43rd in the U.S. Is this seen as a contributing factor to the problems?

Tony Clark: The correction guards' union has pointed out the problem of not only low pay, but the large number of vacancies at the prison. But the report itself says that staffing shortages, in and of themselves, did not appear to have played a direct role in the escape.

CNN Moderator: What are the possible repercussions facing the prison staff?

Tony Clark: Employees could be fired. Disciplinary action has been promised. It could even affect the prison warden. At the same time, the mother of the Irving, Texas officer who was slain by the escapees says that responsibility for the escape should go all the way to the top, to then-governor George W. Bush.

Question from chat room: There were some reports that said some of the guards had friendly relationships with the prisoners. Is this something that officials are also looking into?

Tony Clark: It was not one of the topics of the report. One thing the report did point out is that the inmates who were in the maintenance office were not there having a picnic, as has been reported. According to the report, they were there doing extra duty, which was often something they were assigned to.

Question from chat room: Is there any indication that this prison has had problems before with prison breaks?

Tony Clark: This was the first escape from the Conley Unit.

Question from chat room: Do they have any current clues about the whereabouts of the Seven?

Tony Clark: There are a number of tips that are being investigated each day, but at this point, there is still no firm information where they may be. One thing is important to note -- prison officials believe they are receiving outside help.

Question from chat room: Are all the inmates still all together or split up?

Tony Clark: There is no way to know for sure, but the assumption is they are still together, which in itself is very unusual.

CNN Moderator: Is there any attempt to try to put the public at ease?

Tony Clark: There have been statements by various law enforcement officials to the effect that people should not be panicked because of the escape. But at the same time, they warned that anyone who sees any of these escapees should report that to authorities and not try to either follow them or take any action on their own, because the escapees are considered very dangerous.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts to share with us?

Tony Clark: While the prison tries to understand what happened, so that similar escape does not happen in the future, the biggest immediate task for them is to catch the seven escapees, and return them to prison without additional bloodshed. Those involved in the investigation think that will be a very difficult task to accomplish.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today.

Tony Clark: I've enjoyed visiting with you all. Thank you for the opportunity.

Tony Clark joined the chat room via telephone from Texas and CNN.com provided a typist. The above is an edited transcript of the interview which took place on Thursday, January 11, 2001.

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