CrimeCrimejoyce mitchell

Husband Of Woman Accused Of Helping Prison Escapees: 'How Can She Do This?'

'How Can She Do This? How Can She Do This To Our Kids?'
Open Image Modal
By 

Green Editor, The Huffington Post

|

Joyce Mitchell, the prison employee accused of helping two convicted murderers escape from a maximum-security prison in upstate New York earlier this month, "absolutely" did not have a sexual relationship with either of the two men, her husband Lyle Mitchell told the "Today" show's Matt Lauer in an exclusive interview Tuesday morning.

Mitchell said his wife may have been looking for love elsewhere, but she did not find it with escapee Richard Matt. The prisoner started giving Joyce lot of attention, but then “it went too far," he added. "He tried to kiss her a couple times, she said ‘nah’. He then started threatening her."

Joyce worked as an instructor in the Clinton Correctional Facility's tailoring shop, where she befriended Matt and his accomplice David Sweat. She is accused of providing them with tools and blades to aid their escape. She also planned to serve as their getaway driver but backed out at the last minute.

Lyle Mitchell told NBC News that although his wife was threatened, she wasn't forced to provide the inmates with tools.

“It was like a fantasy” for her, he said. “It was attention."

Mitchell said his wife told him, "I didn’t think you loved me anymore."

“She said, ‘I did not mean to do this.’ But things happened,” he added. His wife eventually realized things were getting out of hand, and decided against driving Matt and Sweat away from the prison, he said.

Mitchell “absolutely” believes he and his wife would both be dead if she had gone to pick up the two inmates and he had been in the car. “They were going to kill her. All they wanted was that vehicle.”

The two inmates allegedly plotted to kill Lyle Mitchell, and his wife was likely aware of the plot, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie announced last week.

Lyle Mitchell admitted to Lauer that the situation has filled him with conflicting emotions. “There are so many thoughts running through my head," he said. "Do I still love her? Yes. Am I mad? Yes. How can she do this? How can she do this to our kids?”

He said he believes his wife is telling the truth, but he hasn't decided whether he’ll stick with her or testify against her. “As of right now, I don’t know what to think.”

Lyle Mitchell's lawyer said he will not be charged in connection with the escape, reported the Plattsburgh Press-Republican.

Before You Go

Escaped New York Murderers
Escaped Prisoners(01 of17)
Open Image Modal
This combination made from photos released by the New York State Police shows inmates David Sweat, left, and Richard Matt. Authorities on Saturday, June 6, 2015 said Sweat, 34, and Matt, 48, both convicted murderers, escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y. (New York State Police via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(02 of17)
Open Image Modal
This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows the area where two convicted murderers used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, NY, near the Canadian border and escaped through a manhole, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015. He said Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(03 of17)
Open Image Modal
This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows Gov. Andrew Cuomo on a catwalk looking into the cell that inmates escaped from at a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border in Dannemora, NY. Gov. Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015, that Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(04 of17)
Open Image Modal
This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows the note left by two convicted murderers who used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, NY, near the Canadian border and escaped through a manhole, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015. He said Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(05 of17)
Open Image Modal
This photo provided by New York State Governor's office shows Gov. Andrew Cuomo looking at the area where two convicted murderers used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, NY, near the Canadian border and escaped through a manhole, New York. Cuomo said Saturday, June 6, 2015, that Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, "are two dangerous individuals." (Darren McGee/New York State Governor's Office, via AP) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(06 of17)
Open Image Modal
A law enforcement agent looks through a sniper scope during a search for two escaped killers over a field in Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(07 of17)
Open Image Modal
Heavily armed law enforcement agents patrol the edge of road during a search for two escaped killers near Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(08 of17)
Open Image Modal
A heavily armed law enforcement officer looks over a field through binoculars during a search for two escaped killers near Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(09 of17)
Open Image Modal
A heavily armed law enforcement officer patrols the edge of road during a search for two escaped killers in Boquet, N.Y., Tuesday, June 9, 2015. State and federal law officers are searching for David Sweat and Richard Matt, two killers who used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannnemora, close to the Canadian border. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(10 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officials man a check point near the border of Dannemora, N.Y., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Police were resuming house-to-house searches near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where David Sweat and Richard Matt , two killers escaped using power tools. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(11 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officers walk the streets in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(12 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officers walk the streets in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(13 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officers walk the streets near the prison in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(14 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officials check the back of trucks at a check point near the border of Dannemora, N.Y., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Police were resuming house-to-house searches near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where David Sweat and Richard Matt , two killers escaped using power tools. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Escaped Prisoners(15 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officials check the trunk of a car at a check point near the border of Dannemora, N.Y., Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Police were resuming house-to-house searches near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where David Sweat and Richard Matt , two killers escaped using power tools. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Escaped Prisoners(16 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officers question a woman, Wednesday, June 10, 2015, who lives near the prison in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Escaped Prisoners(17 of17)
Open Image Modal
Law enforcement officers walk the streets in Dannemora, N.Y., as they searched houses near the maximum-security prison in northern New York where two killers escaped using power tools,Wednesday, June 10, 2015. State Police said the fifth day of searching will entail going from house to house in Dannemora, where David Sweat and Richard Matt cut their way out of the Clinton Correctional Facility. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip