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#REDIRECT [[June 1962 Alcatraz escape attempt#Frank Morris]]
{{Refimprove|date=June 2008}}
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{{Infobox criminal
| name = Frank Morris
| image_name = Frank Morris.jpg
| image_size = 150px
| image_caption = Frank Morris mugshot, 1960
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|9|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Washington, D.C]] [[File:Flag of the United States.svg|22px]]
| disappeared_place = [[Alcatraz]] - Missing, presumed dead
| conviction = possession of [[narcotics]], [[armed robbery]] - [[Washington, D.C]], others
| conviction_penalty = Life imprisonment
| conviction_status = [[Missing person|Missing]], presumed dead
}}
'''Frank Lee Morris''' (September 1, 1926 – missing since June 11, 1962) is an [[United States|American]] [[criminal]] who [[June 1962 Alcatraz escape|escaped from Alcatraz prison in June 1962]] and was never seen again.

==Biography==
=== Early life ===
Morris was born in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vault.fbi.gov/Alcatraz%20Escape/Alcatraz%20Escape%20Part%202%20of%2017|title=Alcatraz Escape Part 2 of 17|quote=In 1955 Vital Statistic Records, Washington, D. C., revealed FRANK MORRIS was born September 1, 1926, Gallinger Hospital, Washington, D. C.|accessdate=2011-08-06|format=PDF|page=52|publisher=FBI Records: The Vault}}</ref> and was orphaned at age 11.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/us/anniversary-of-a-mystery-at-alcatraz.html?pagewanted=all</ref> He spent most of his early years in jail serving lunch to prisoners. The associate warden's record card at Alcatraz Prison lists his "Crimes Involved" as "Juv. Deliq.-2; Runaways-2; Breaking & Entering-1; Burglary-1; Narcotics & Armed Robbery-1; Unlawful Flight, Mann Act, & Bank Robbery-1."[http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/alcesc1.htm] Morris is said to have an [[IQ]] of 133, which is in the top 3%.<ref>{{cite news|last=McFadden|first=Robert D.|title=Tale of 3 Inmates Who Vanished From Alcatraz Maintains Intrigue 50 Years Later|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/us/anniversary-of-a-mystery-at-alcatraz.html?pagewanted=all|accessdate=June 10, 2012|newspaper=New York Times|date=June 9, 2012}}</ref>

=== Alcatraz ===
[[File:Alcatraz Cells 8.JPG|thumb|right|160px|Cell vents.]]
On January 3, 1960, Morris was shipped to Alcatraz, where he became prisoner #AZ1441. Morris reportedly began devising his escape within a year of his arrival at Alcatraz.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ocean View Publishing Company |url=http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/alcesc1.htm |title=The Great Escape from Alcatraz |publisher=Alcatrazhistory.com |date= |accessdate=2012-06-10}}</ref> There were three others involved: [[John Anglin]], his brother [[Clarence Anglin]] and [[Allen West (prisoner)|Allen West]] (who masterminded the plot<ref>{{cite web|publisher=National Geographic Channel|title= Alcatraz: Living Hell|accessdate=3 July 2012|url=http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/national-geographic-channel/all-videos/av-7729-7975/ngc-alcatraz-living-hell/|website=video.nationalgeographic.co.in}}</ref> but was the only conspirator who did not participate in the actual escape, as he was unable to finish removing the ventilator grill in his cell in time to join the escape when it was eventually carried out.<ref>http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/alcesc2.htm The Great Escape from Alcatraz</ref>). The escape was long and complicated. Over a period of two years, Morris, West and the Anglin brothers created a raft and lifelike dummies, and stole a number of tools to dig with. So many escape materials had been used by the conspirators that they had actually created a workshop above their cell row.

Allen West was painting above his cell and asked prison guards if he could cover the area with blankets. West explained his painting area was extremely dusty and dust was falling down on the prison floor. These blankets completely covered West's workshop area. By May 1962, they had already dug through the vents at the back of the cells, working in shifts, with someone keeping lookout while others dug. On the night of June 11, 1962, the attempt went ahead. The group placed the dummies in their beds, escaped through the vents at the back of their cells and into the utility corridor. They then proceeded onto the roof and down to the bay. There they boarded the raft they had constructed and disappeared into the night.

The following morning prison officers found dummies lying in the beds and the prisoners missing. The FBI conducted one of the largest manhunts since the [[Lindbergh kidnapping]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} Parts of the raft and life preservers were later found in the bay together with a waterproof bag containing personal effects of the Anglins. Although the authorities never found any bodies, they were certain the men had drowned.<ref name = "FBI">{{cite web|url=http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2007/june/alcatraz_060807|title=A byte out of history – Escape from Alcatraz|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|accessdate=2011-09-02}}</ref> They cited the fact that "the individuals' personal effects were the only belongings they had, and the men would have drowned before leaving them behind."

However, when authorities searched for any bodies, they found nothing. Another inmate of Alcatraz claimed to have known of the plot and later told authorities the men had arranged for a boat to pick them up from the bay. However, the inmate's testimony was given little credit due to his background and prior attempts of lying to gain favor or plea deals. A [[Norway|Norwegian]] ship said that a body was discovered floating in the bay five weeks after the escape. Although they were unable to retrieve it, they told the police the clothes of the body resembled clothes that prisoners on Alcatraz used, and that the body resembled Frank Morris.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUoF5koN3M] Unsolved Mysteries-episode about the escape</ref>

According to the 2011 [[National Geographic Channel|National Geographic]] documentary, ''Vanished from Alcatraz'', bones from a human were found eight months after the escape on the shore near the place where the Norwegian ship had spotted a body. The bones were recovered and buried and on ''Vanished from Alcatraz'', the bones were dug up, and DNA from the bones was compared to one of Morris' paternal relatives. The DNA did not match and so the bones were not Morris', although it is not certain if they belonged to the floating body at all.
[[File:Dummy head.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Dummy head found in Morris' cell.]]

In the end, authorities pointed out that the chances of all three surviving the trip across the bay were slim. At the time, there was no discovery of robberies or car thefts that could have been attributed to them, and the men were habitual criminals yet were never arrested again. The FBI officially closed the case on December 31, 1979, concluding that "no credible evidence emerged to suggest the men were still alive". Though since there have been many reconstructions and triathlon events held yearly to commemorate the event, there have been sightings of the three over the years which provides circumstantial evidence that the men may have survived. If Frank Morris did surive the escape and is still alive today, he is 86 years old. <ref name = "FBI"/>

== Popular culture ==
{{Main|Escape from Alcatraz (book)|Escape from Alcatraz (film)}}
In 1963, J. Campbell Bruce published his book ''[[Escape from Alcatraz (book)|Escape from Alcatraz]]'' about escapes from Alcatraz Island, including that of Morris and the Anglin brothers.<ref>{{cite book |title=Escape from Alcatraz |last=Bruce |first=Campbell J. |year= 1963 |isbn=1-58008-678-0}}</ref> The 1979 film ''[[Escape from Alcatraz (film)|Escape from Alcatraz]]'' starred [[Clint Eastwood]], [[Fred Ward]], and Jack Thibeau as Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin respectively. Allen West was played by [[Larry Hankin]]; his character's name was changed to Charlie Butts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079116/ |title=Escape from Alcatraz (1979) |accessdate=2008-12-07 |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref>

Frank Morris and the 1962 escape were examined in a 2011 [[National Geographic Channel]] program entitled ''Vanished from Alcatraz''. According to the newly uncovered official records discussed on the program, a raft was discovered on Angel Island with footprints leading away. Furthermore, there was also a report of a stolen car in the area that night, which could have been used by Morris and the other escapees. However, while confirming these facts, which were hidden from the officials for quite some time, the findings of further investigations remain inconclusive. As a result, the U.S. Marshal’s office is still investigating this case, which will remain open on all three escapees until their 100th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809401/|title=Vanished from Alcatraz (2011)|accessdate=2011-10-22 |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref>

The TV show ''[[MythBusters]]'' showed that in similar conditions a raft made of raincoats could be successfully paddled across to the [[Marin Headlands]] with three men aboard &mdash; the raft was piloted by the show's main cast members [[Jamie Hyneman]], [[Adam Savage]], and Will Abbott, a Mythbusters intern from the shop. Also mentioned at the end of the show, was a compelling report of a paddle found on a part of [[Angel Island (California)|Angel Island]] where the current led directly (and only) from the Marin Headlands. It is “plausible” that the prisoners may have survived their intricate escape attempt.

[[Capital Lights]] recorded the song "Frank Morris" about the escape on their album ''[[This Is an Outrage!]]''.

== See also ==
* [[List of Alcatraz escape attempts]]
* [[List of people who disappeared mysteriously]]
* [[Theodore Cole and Ralph Roe]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=34443 Morris profiled at ''America's Most Wanted'']
* [http://www.alcatrazhistory.com/alcesc1.htm The Great Alcatraz Escape]


{{Redirect category shell|1=
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{R from merge}}
{{Persondata
{{R from person}}
|NAME= Morris, Frank
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[United States|American]] [[criminal]], escapee from [[Alcatraz]]
|DATE OF BIRTH=1926-09-01
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Washington D.C.]]
|DATE OF DEATH=1962-06-11 (presumed)
|PLACE OF DEATH=[[San Francisco, California]] (presumed)
}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Frank}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:Alcatraz inmates]]
[[Category:American criminals]]
[[Category:American escapees]]
[[Category:Missing people]]
[[Category:People from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Escapees from United States federal government detention]]


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[[ru:Фрэнк Моррис]]
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[[sv:Frank Lee Morris]]

Latest revision as of 20:12, 15 July 2021

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