Escape At Dannemora: What The Real Lyle Mitchell Has Said About Joyce's Role In The Prison Escape

2 days ago 2

Escape At Dannemora

Like most true-story TV/movie adaptations, Escape at Dannemora does not unfold like a documentary. It takes a fair share of creative liberties and also portrays only a segment of the broader criminal narrative. Owing to this, it focuses less on the aftermath of the crime and what Joyce Mitchell's husband, Lyle Mitchell, went through emotionally after learning about his wife's involvement in Matt and Sweat's escape plan. Since Lyle Mitchell is otherwise an important part of the overarching narrative, many viewers may be curious about his reaction to the event.

Lyle Mitchell Claimed He Didn't Know About Joyce's Plan To Help Richard Matt & David Sweat Escape From Prison

Lyle Mitchell Revealed He Learned About It Much Later

In an interview (via NBC News), Lyle Mitchell disclosed that his wife, Joyce Mitchell, only opened up to him about the truth surrounding her involvement when she realized she was "in too deep" and her past actions could hurt him. Mitchell recalled that he knew nothing about how his wife brought tools into the Clinton Correctional Facility to help Sweat and Matt. Only after the police started consistently questioning Joyce about her potential involvement in the prison escape did Lyle grow suspicious of her behavior.

Escape At Dannemora: What Happened To The Real Joyce Mitchell

Joyce Mitchell is given a lot of focus in the Showtime series Escape at Dannemora, and here is everything that happened to her after the show.

Lyle Mitchell revealed that even an investigator approached him at the police station and informed him that his "wife is more involved than she is lettin' on." This prompted him to ask his wife what was going on, leading to her responding that she "did some things" and got over her head. After his wife's confession, Lyle Mitchell not only realized that Joyce was involved in the prison escape but also learned about the extent to which she helped Sweat and Matt with their plan.

How Lyle Mitchell Reacted To The Truth About Joyce's Involvement In The Prison Escape

For Obvious Reasons, He Was Shocked After Learning About Joyce's Involvement

Lyle Mitchell recounted that he did not know what to say when his wife told him the truth about her involvement. "I was just...disbelief, shock," he quoted. According to Lyle Mitchell's account, Joyce Mitchell alleged that Matt only tried to kiss her occasionally, but things never went beyond that between them. In other reports (via NBC News), however, Joyce said that she helped the inmates escape because she was "caught up in the fantasy." She claimed that she enjoyed the attention they gave her and also liked how they gave her "the thought of a different life."

Escape at Dannemora Key Facts Breakdown
Written & Created By	Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin
Directed By	Ben Stiller
Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score	88%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score	91%

Joyce Mitchell later also revealed that Matt kissed her once when they were alone in the tailor shop. She was "startled" by the incident but refused to say anything about it because she was scared for her husband, who also worked in the same facility. As per reports, Joyce Mitchell also confirmed that she also passed notes to Matt, which were of "a sexual nature." Although she denied having any sexual contact with Inmate Sweat, she disclosed she had given intimate pictures of herself to Matt to give to Sweat.

Was Joyce Mitchell Really Planning To Kill Lyle?

Killing Lyle Was A Part Of The Escape Plan

Richard Matt talking to Joyce Mitchell in Escape at Dennamora

Inmate Matt assured Joyce Mitchell that they "were all going to be together" after planning their escape. The plan was to first give two pills to Lyle Mitchell that would knock him out for hours. This would allow Joyce to leave her home without her husband noticing. Once her husband was unconscious, she was supposed to drive her jeep to Dannemora and meet the two inmates near the powerhouse. The inmates also expected her to carry her "cellphone, GPS, clothes, a gun, tents, sleeping bags, hatchet, fishing poles, and money from a package (she never picked up.)"

She revealed she could not follow through with the rest of the plan because of her love for her husband.

After the pickup, the trio was supposed to head back to Joyce Mitchell's place, where Inmate Matt was going to murder her husband, who he referred to as "the glitch." However, Mitchell ultimately got cold feet and backed off from the plan at the last moment. She revealed she could not follow through with the rest of the plan because of her love for her husband.

Did Lyle Mitchell Continue To Support Joyce After She Was Charged?

He Claimed He Still Loved Her After The Truth Came Out

Reports suggest that Lyle Mitchell continued to support his wife even after she was charged. Although he believed she had some affection towards Inmate Matt, he was sure nothing sexual had happened between his wife and the two criminals she helped escape. He added that his wife was willing to cooperate with law enforcers and tell them everything about the prison break. To close his statement, he also said that he still loves her but is still mad at her and cannot help but question how she could do this to their kids.

Joyce Mitchell ultimately pleaded guilty to promoting prison contraband and criminal facilitation and was sentenced to two-and-a-third to seven years in prison. In addition, she was fined $6375 and ordered to pay $79,841 in restitution. Five years later, she was granted parole and released. When she was interviewed after Escape at Dannemora's release, she expressed dissatisfaction with the show's portrayal of her story. Here's what she said (via New York Post):

“Ben Stiller is a son-of-a-bitch liar just like the rest of the world. He doesn’t care about the truth. All he cares about is making millions off me. He’s an idiot”

Escape at Dannemora is a crime drama based on a real-life prison break in upstate New York. The series explores the complex relationships and manipulations among two convicted murderers and the facility's staff member who becomes entangled in their escape plan, revealing underlying themes of desperation and vulnerability.

Cast Benicio Del Toro , Paul Dano , Patricia Arquette , David Morse , Eric Lange , Bonnie Hunt , Gregory Dann , Daniel Johnson , Dominic Colon , Jeremy Bobb , Skipp Sudduth , Amber Gray , Micah Stock , Michael Imperioli , Leo James Davis , Charlie Hofheimer , Jim Parrack , Richie Allan , Carolyn Mignini , Charles Prendergast , David Neal Levin

Character(s) Richard Matt , David Sweat , Joyce Tilly Mitchell , Gene Palmer , Lyle Mitchell , Catherine Scott , Corrections Officer Boyd , Inmate , Odell Martinez , Dennis Lambert , Clinton Superintendent Steve Racette , Annie , Kenny Mitchell , New York Governor Andrew Cuomo , Kenny Barille Jr. , Kenny Barille Sr. , Kevin Tarsia , William Rickerson , Ilene Mulvaney , Domino , George Armistead

Release Date November 18, 2018

Seasons 1

Creator(s) Brett Johnson , Michael Tolkin

Read Entire Article