A New York district attorney says the woman charged with helping two murderers escape from a maximum-security prison had discussed with them a murder-for-hire plot targeting her husband.
Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said Wednesday at a news conference that Joyce Mitchell talked to inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat about killing her husband, Lyle.
"There was a plot to kill Lyle Mitchell between the two inmates," said Wylie. "Joyce Mitchell was aware of it."
Prosecutors have said Joyce Mitchell agreed to be the inmates' getaway driver but backed out because she still loved her husband and felt guilty for participating.
Both Joyce Mitchell and Lyle Mitchell work at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.
Meanwhile, Major Charles Guess of the New York State Police says officials are expanding the manhunt for the two men to other areas around Dannemora.
"Personnel are being re-deployed to other areas based on information gathered during the investigation," said Guess. "People in the region should expect to see law enforcement in their community as the search expands."
Officials continue to say they are confident the two inmates will be caught, but did not comment on details of the investigation.
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