New evidence unveiled on History Channel's Monday night episode leaves the viewer with, amazingly, few questions left unanswered.

While not questioning the History Channel's sincerity and reputation in presenting such evidence, I must admit that I was fairly skeptical of two relatives who found the spotlight upon proclaiming they knew that brothers John and Clarence Anglin had survived Vegas odds in braving frigid bay waters in their infamous escape from Alcatraz prison on June 11, 1962.

Left to Right: Frank Morris, Clarence Anglin and John Anglin

 

Anglin brothers John and Clarence, along with Alcatraz inmate Frank Morris accomplished what authorities considered to be impossible when, after months of planning, digging, and fashioning crude survival gear, most notably a raft made from raincoats, departed The Rock after having served only five years and six months between the three. Thus ends the facts and here begins the speculation.

Monday night's History Channel episode portrays two Anglin family members who present new evidence in the long speculation as to the fate of the Anglin brothers and Morris.

For openers, several Christmas cards which the family claim to have been left in their mail box with no envelope. Intriguing? Not exactly. Even the official analysis of the paper in which the cards were printed on failed to conclusively prove when they were manufactured. Come on History Channel, there has to be more.

Next, the Anglin family presents photographs...ok, now we're getting somewhere, I tell myself. Pictures of family members and some family friend named Fred Brizzi (pronounced "breezy") who swears he ran into the brothers in a bar in Rio de Janeiro in 1975. Yeah, and about ten years ago I had family members who had a conversation with Elvis who was working part-time at the local McDonalds who, after a lengthy explanation, stated he could no longer live with the notoriety and fame of being a rock star so he chose to live the life of a simpler man and in doing so, learned how to make the perfect fry.

I've often chosen to go where the evidence leads and, in doing so, am often deflated by the lack of explosive end result when the facts bring the actual story to the public. Conspiracies abound, where would we be without a good story to tell?

However, one final photograph caught my attention, and, I would think, the attention of those viewers who are truly interested in the truth: a photo of two men standing on a farm, sporting beards and wearing sunglasses. Expert analysis by the United States Marshall Service indicated that the farm was in another country due to a power pole shown in the photo which was not indicative of power poles found in the states.

Upon first glance, features of both men would undoubtedly cause even the skeptical to lend a few more minutes in scrutinizing the photo. Weight appearance, longer hair and even with the eyes being covered, there was no denying that this was worthy of investigating further.

 

 

Are these men John and Clarence Anglin? If so, our understanding of the events which took place on the night of June 11, 1962 must be revisited. More importantly, it raises some compelling questions. From the standpoint of the United States government, these men still owe time having not been served.

Coupled with the fact that escaping from prison is a federal crime, which almost certainly would be another charge in addition to any other charges levied against them for actions in violation of the law in the act of the escape and the duration of their absence from being incarcerated, it stands to reason that, if found, exoneration may not be an option. Certainly, there will always be an element of fanfare and intrigue surrounding this story, perhaps for years to come, but in the end, they broke the law. No matter the opinion, one cannot deny the pressing question which could possibly be answered were the brothers to be captured: Did the brothers simply part ways with Frank Morris in pursuit of separate lives? Or was Morris swept away in the icy waters of the bay? These questions will occupy many for years to come.

 

Dear Paramount Pictures,

I want in on writing the sequel to 1979's Escape from Alcatraz. Clint still has plenty of gas left in the tank to reprise his role in playing Frank Morris, living it up on an island after having been declared dead since 1962, drinking pina colodas and watching history unfold from a beach.

Come on, any sequel with Clint....Clint Eastwood....is bound to be a winner.