The directory «Plots»

Morris Frank Lee
(1926– disappeared June 11, 1962, death uncertain)

Frank Lee Morris was an American criminal who escaped from Alcatraz and was never seen again.

Frank Lee Morris was born in Washington, D.C. and spent most of his early years in different foster homes. He was convicted of his first crime at the age of 13, and by his late teens had been arrested for crimes ranging from possession of narcotics to armed robbery. Morris was believed to be of superior intelligence, having an I.Q. of approximately 133 according to most historians.

On January 20, 1960 Frank Morris was shipped to Alcatraz, where he became prisoner #AZ1441. Allegedly, Morris began devising his escape as soon as he arrived at Alcatraz. There were three others involved: John Anglin, his brother Clarence Anglin, and Allen West (who was unable to join the escape when it was eventually carried out).

The escape was long and complicated. Over a period of two years, Morris and the Anglins created a raft and lifelike dummies, and stole a number of tools to dig with. By May 1962, they had already dug through the vents at the back of the cells, working in shifts, with someone keeping lookout while others dug.

On the night of June 11, 1962 the attempt went ahead. The group placed the dummies in their beds, escaped through the vents at the back of their cells and into the utility corridor. They then proceeded onto the roof and down to the bay. There they boarded the raft they had constructed and disappeared into the night.

The following morning prison officers awoke to find dummies lying in the beds and the prisoners missing. The FBI conducted one of the largest manhunts since the Lindbergh kidnapping but to no avail. Parts of the raft and life preservers were later found in the bay together with a waterproof bag containing personal effects of the Anglins. Although the authorities never found any bodies, they were certain the men had drowned. They pointed out that the chances of all three surviving the trip across the bay were slim, there were no robberies or car thefts that could have been attributed to them, as well as the fact that the men were habitual criminals and yet were never arrested again. The FBI officially closed the case on December 31, 1979, concluding that "no credible evidence emerged to suggest the men were still alive".

However, the MythBusters showed that in similar conditions a raft made of raincoats could be successfully paddled across to the Marin Headlands with three men aboard — the raft was piloted by the show's main cast members Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, together with another member of the show's cast to take the third place. They also mentioned at the end of the show a compelling report of a paddle found on a part of Angel Island where the current led directly (and only) from the Marin Headlands.

Mali, 1994, Clint Eastwood