CNN's Frank Buckley on the fate of the 'Texas Seven'

Frank Buckley

Frank Buckley is a New York-based general assignment reporter for CNN-U.S.

Chat Moderator: In an unusual ending to securing the capture of the last two fugitives, police allowed CNN affiliate KKTV to interview the escapees. Why did authorities agree to give airtime to the fugitives, and how was that arranged?

Frank Buckley: Well, they felt that it was a relatively safe thing to do, because they had secured the hotel and knew that this reporter wouldn't be in any immediate danger. They also felt, through their negotiations, they had developed a level of trust with the fugitives. Their feeling was if in fact the fugitives would honor their commitment to come out immediately after this interview, it was worth it.

The interview was arranged through a phone call to this television station. The anchorman was asked to come to the scene, to the command post. He -- Eric Singer -- told me he, in fact, did go over some of the questions with negotiators to make sure he didn't say anything to instigate the fugitives. What he didn't want was a violent outcome.

The reporter was in one part of the hotel with a camera on him. The fugitives were in another part of the hotel on the phone. The reporter conducted the interview over the phone. It was broadcast live, locally, and according to my notes, the interview ended at 3:43 a.m. At 3:44 a.m., the first fugitive was in custody, and at 3:45 a.m., the second fugitive was taken into custody.

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VIDEO Watch the telephone interviews, which were set up in cooperation with police Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   RESOURCES Key dates in the Texas prison escape Texas Department of Criminal Justice report on the December 13 prison escape Read the memo detailing the prison escape and the escapees' crimes (PDF) Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader Profiles of the escapees     ALSO Colorado Springs anchor's interview helps end siege Fugitives avoided neighbors during three weeks in Colorado Life of dead fugitive Harper was 'tragic,' psychiatrist says

Question from the chat room: Frank, were the officers surprised that the fugitives gave themselves up peacefully?

Frank Buckley: They were probably pleasantly surprised. They were concerned all along that there would be a violent final act to this drama. They believed these men were heavily armed, and yesterday, the FBI agent in charge of this investigation, Mark Mershon, told us that we have to assume they're desperate. So, this was the best possible outcome from their point of view.

Chat Moderator: Where have the captured fugitives been sent?

Frank Buckley: They've been taken to a local jail facility. They are not at the same facility that the other four fugitives are incarcerated in. They are awaiting extradition to Texas.

Question from the chat room: Mr. Buckley, good afternoon, and thanks for talking to us. A question: Have any of them said what happened with the police officer they murdered?

Frank Buckley: That was one thing neither fugitive addressed during this interview with the television reporter. However, Irving police in Texas say George Rivas, the alleged ringleader of the fugitives, has confessed to the murder.

Question from the chat room: Will the courts seek the death penalty against all six remaining men for the death of Officer Aubrey?

Frank Buckley: We don't know for sure how prosecutors will proceed, but in Texas, this is a capital offense, and it is likely prosecutors would seek the death penalty.

Chat Moderator: What other charges might they face?

Frank Buckley: They were involved, according to police, in at least two armed robberies. They may also face federal charges of unlawful flight and for possessing weapons illegally. They are all convicted felons, and they are not allowed to be in possession of weapons.

Question from the chat room: Have any fugitives said anything about there being outside help, or if they had any?

Frank Buckley: So far, they have not addressed that publicly. Investigators do believe there was outside help. They point to the day of the escape and the fact that these escapees had two cars waiting for them in a parking lot to aid in their escape. Someone put those cars there.

Question from the chat room: How were they able to check into hotels? Did they have false identifications?

Frank Buckley: We just spoke with officials of the Holiday Inn, and they say the two men checked into the Holiday Inn at approximately 8 p.m. on Monday night. The spokesman for Holiday Inn said they had ID cards that had been "tampered with." They used cash to check in and went undetected essentially until the next day. On Tuesday, an employee felt that they might be the fugitives being sought and called police.

Chat Moderator: Do you expect any kind of prison reform discourse will result from this episode?

Frank Buckley: Well, already in Texas there has been a review of the facility where this breakout took place. Some employees have been disciplined or demoted. Some suggestions have been made about how to improve security and prevent this from ever happening again.

In fact, there is a Web site you might be interested in, which reviews in depth the entire breakout. It's the Web site of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, at www.tdcj.state.tx.us. It addresses that very question of suggestions and changes. What it doesn't do is address the concerns leveled by the fugitives today.

Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Frank Buckley.

Frank Buckley joined the chat room via telephone from Colorado Springs, CO. CNN provided a typist for him. The above is an edited transcript of the chat on Wednesday, January 24, 2001.

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