The Great 1997 Pennsylvania Prison Break: How Six Inmates Dug Their Way to Freedom

In the cold morning hours of January 8, 1997, what began as a routine headcount at Pennsylvania’s Western Penitentiary turned into one of the most infamous escapes in the state’s history. Six inmates had vanished, and what police soon discovered would shock the entire state.

A 12-meter-long tunnel, meticulously dug from within the prison’s mechanical workshop, led directly to an outside warehouse. But how did they pull off such an audacious feat under the watchful eyes of one of Pennsylvania’s most secure facilities?

A High-Security Facility—Or Was It?

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