All in the Family: McCluskey's mom arrested.

(FYI: McCluskey and Welch arrested in AZ 8/19/10 post. All escapees back in custody.)


Mother of escaped inmate arrested in Arizona

By AMANDA LEE MYERS

Associated Press Writer

August 7, 2010 01:47PM
(as posted in the Salt Lake Tribune)

PAYSON, Ariz. • The mother of one of three inmates who escaped from a northwestern Arizona prison was arrested Saturday after authorities suspected she helped two of them.

Claudia Washburn, 68, was arrested at her home and place of business in Jakes Corner south of Payson on charges of conspiracy to commit escape, hindering prosecution and facilitation to commit escape, said Thomas Henman, supervisory deputy at the U.S. Marshals Service.

He said Washburn is the mother of John McCluskey, who escaped from the medium-security Arizona State Prison near Kingman with Tracy Province and Daniel Renwick on July 30.

Authorities believe McCluskey’s fiancee and cousin — 44-year-old Casslyn Welch of Mesa — helped the inmates escape by throwing wire cutters over the prison fence.

Henman said Washburn is suspected of giving financial and other types of support to help McCluskey, Province and Welch. Renwick was arrested Aug. 1 in Rifle, Colo. following a brief car chase and shoot-out.

Washburn lives and works at the general store in Jakes Corner. Investigators were searching the store and Washburn’s apartment for evidence.

The Arizona Department of Corrections says the three men escaped by cutting a hole in the prison’s perimeter fence and later kidnapping two semi-truck drivers at gunpoint and using the big rig to flee. The group left the drivers unharmed in the truck at a stop just off Interstate 40 in Flagstaff and then fled.

Province was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery out of Pima County. McCluskey was serving a 15-year prison term for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm out of Maricopa County. Renwick had been serving a 22-year sentence for second-degree murder.

A nationwide search was under way for McCluskey, Province and Welch. The group may be using a 1997 platinum gold Nissan Sentra with Arizona license plate 6-2-0-P-F-V.

Private Prison security lapse: 2 Kingman escapees still on loose.

(FYI: McCluskey and Welch arrested in AZ 8/19/10 post. All escapees back in custody.)


According to the Az Department of Corrections website, Kingman Prison (Golden Valley) is operated by the Management and Training Corporation (MTC). This is the reason why the ADC didn't want to turn over their maximum security facilities to private prison operators - security, among other things, is often substandard. But it would have been the ADC who decided to put three murderers in medium security facilities in the first place. It's ludicrous that these guys could have escaped the way they did - they are now both dangerous and desperate - a bad combination.

--------------------------------------------

Authorities capture one of three escaped convicts in Colorado

By the CNN Wire Staff

August 2, 2010 5:35 a.m. EDT

(CNN) -- One of three convicted killers who escaped from an Arizona prison was captured Sunday in Rifle, Colorado, and authorities are on the lookout for a silver Volkswagen Jetta the remaining escapees may be driving, according to corrections officials.

Daniel Renwick, 36, was spotted driving a brown Chevy Blazer by a Rifle police officer who gave chase, Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan told CNN Radio. Gunshots were exchanged, and Renwick was ultimately taken into custody.

Renwick, who broke out of the Arizona State Prison-Kingman Friday night along with two others, was serving 22 years for second-degree murder. He is being held in Colorado, awaiting questioning by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Ryan said the remaining escapees, identified as Tracy Province and John McCluskey, are believed to be driving a 2002 silver Jetta purchased Saturday in west Phoenix.

"If anyone sees this silver, 4-door Jetta, we recommend they call 911," Ryan said.

The men, who have been described as armed and dangerous, were discovered missing after the 9:45 p.m. count Friday at the privately-operated Kingman facility. The escapees cut a hole in the fence, authorities said. A helicopter and dogs began a search.

"Precisely how they escaped is under investigation," Ryan said, noting some "operational security problems" at the prison.

"Those are being evaluated and investigated as we speak," he added.

Province and McCluskey are believed to be with a female accomplice who was on the visitation list for one of the inmates.

After their escape, the inmates and the accomplice abducted two truck drivers on Interstate 40 outside of Kingman and hijacked their 18-wheeler, according to the Mohave County Sheriff's Department in Kingman. They released them and the rig five hours later in Flagstaff, about 135 miles to the east.

Province, 42, was serving a life sentence for murder and armed robbery. McCluskey, 45, was serving 15 years for second-degree murder and other charges.

The suspected accomplice was identified as 43-year-old Casslyn Mae Welch, who is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.