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60 years after infamous Alcatraz escape, new photos depict 3 men who remain missing

Men would be in their 90s if still alive

Aerial view of Alcatraz Island in January 1932. The island was used as a maximum security federal prison from 1934 to 1963. (FBI)

The U.S. Marshals Service has released updated age progression photos of the three infamous men who pulled off the great escape from Alcatraz more than 60 years ago.

The 1962 escape is probably the most famous prison break in American history, and the three men involved have never been located, dead or alive.

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Frank Morris arrived at Alcatraz, which was located on a small island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, in January 1960 after convictions for bank robbery, burglary, and other crimes and repeated attempts to escape various prisons. Later that year, a convict by the name of John Anglin was sent to Alcatraz, followed by his brother Clarence in early 1961. All three knew each other from previous stints in prison.

John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, Frank Morris. (FBI)

On June 12, 1962, the routine early morning bed check turned out to be anything but. Three convicts were not in their cells: John Anglin, his brother Clarence, and Frank Morris. In their beds were cleverly built dummy heads made of plaster, flesh-tone paint, and real human hair that apparently fooled the night guards. The prison went into lock down, and an intensive search began.

This photo, taken in Clarence Anglin’s cell, shows how the dummy heads were arranged to fool the guards into thinking the inmates were asleep. (FBI)

(Read more about the case here)

The U.S. Marshals Service released updated photos this week, just after the 60th anniversary of the escape. If alive, all three of the men would be in their 90s.

Frank Morris

Frank Morris, 2022. (US Marshals)

Clarence Anglin

Clarence Anglin. (US Marshals)

John Anglin

John Anglin. (US Marshals)

FBI files: Alcatraz escape

The FBI’s thorough investigation, which lasted for nearly two decades, was unable to determine whether the three men successfully escaped or died in the attempt. The files begin with the breakout in 1962 and continue through December 1979 when the FBI closed the case. Check out the FBI collection here.


About the Author
Ken Haddad headshot

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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