Alcatraz Research Papers

The Escape

People love mysteries, which is why numerous books, movies, and other forms of media have adapted from some of the most prolific ones. One such mystery involves an infamous prison escape on Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz, also known as “The Rock,” was a former maximum-security prison located on an island in the San Francisco Bay. In total, thirty-six men attempted to escape the island, and almost all were killed or apprehended, except three men who vanished without a trace. On the night of June 11, 1962, three inmates launched a daring escape from Alcatraz Island, going down in history as one of the greatest prison escapes in history. Despite the efforts of several law enforcement agencies, the fate of the three men remains unknown

The waters around Alcatraz are known for their strong currents, frigid temperatures, and choppy waves. A swim club by the name of Odyssey Open Water describes the water as “rough and choppy with a temperature at 10 degrees or lower” (Odyssey Open Water, 2023). The escapees attempted to cross the bay using a raft and lifejackets they crafted from raincoats. Both the lifejackets and the raft may not have been strong enough to withstand the harsh conditions of the bay, likely failing, leaving the men to drown in the water. The Coast Guard, the FBI, and local police forces all participated in the search for the escapees, using every resource available to find a lead. Despite extensive searches of the bay and surrounding area, authorities could not find evidence that the three men had survived. The FBI closed the case in 1979, indicating the men were swept out to sea, along with any evidence. In the months and years following the escape, several bodies washed up on nearby shores, but none of them belonged to the escapees. Additionally, no debris from the raft or life jackets was recovered, causing some to believe neither was used in the escape. The lack of evidence found by law enforcement led them to believe that the three men perished in the water, with any evidence of the escape swept out to see with

Some researchers have pointed out that the treacherous waters of San Francisco Bay are not a death sentence. In 2015 a team of researchers simulated the currents on the night of the escape. They concluded that “the time they left shore and the direction they paddled in determined their fate” (Sumner 10). Even if the raft and lifejackets failed, the men still had a chance to make it to shore. Over the years, several people have made the swim to Alcatraz Island, including a 9-year-old boy. In addition, an oar believed to have been used by the inmates was found on the shore of Angel Island, located about two miles north of Alcatraz. One of the most intriguing pieces of evidence supporting the idea that the men survived is a letter allegedly written by John Anglin and sent to the authorities in 2013. The letter, postmarked from Brazil, claimed that Anglin and his brother, Clarence, were still alive and wanted to return to the United States to face justice. The letter included a photograph of the two men in the 1970s. The letter's authenticity has been disputed, with some experts arguing that it's a hoax, while others claim it is genuine. The letter may be a forgery or a prank, but if the letter is genuine, it would suggest that the two men survived and managed to evade the authorities for decades. While it is impossible to know