New York State Offers $100,000 Reward for Escaped Prisoners

New York State has put up a $100,000 reward for anyone who has information that leads to the capture and arrest of the two convicted killers who escaped from a maximum security prison.

Governor Andrew Cuomo called the $50,000-per-prisoner reward unusual but "appropriate."  He said: "These are dangerous men" who are "capable of committing grave crimes once again."

Somehow Richard Matt and David Sweat were able to get their hands on power tools and used them to escape on Saturday, June 6th, from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, which is located approximately 20 miles south of Canada.

34-year-old David Sweat is serving a life sentence for the 2002 killing of Broome County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin J. Tarsia. Tarsia was a 13-year veteran who spotted three men in a park near his home in Kirkwood in the early morning hours of July 4th. The men were splitting the proceeds of a burglary and killed Tarsia when he confronted them. Sweat is described as standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds and having brown hair and green eyes. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.

48-year-old Matt is severing 25 years to life for the 1997 kidnapping and killing of a man. Matt, is described as standing 6 feet tall, weighing 210 pounds and having black hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos reading "Mexico Forever," a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a Marine Corps badge on his right shoulder.

If you think you've seen either of the fugitives or have any information about where they might be, police say you should call 911 immediately.