John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris had escaped. On their pillows were papier-mâché replicas of their own heads, meant to mask their absence and throw guards off their scent. What happened to them remains a mystery to this day.

That’s one of the most enduring mysteries in American history. The short answer is: No, they never found the men, and there is no conclusive proof they survived or perished.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened and the evidence:

The Escape

On the night of June 11, 1962, three inmates—Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin—escaped from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. They used homemade tools to widen ventilation ducts, climbed plumbing pipes, and exited through a roof vent. They then descended to the ground and launched a makeshift raft (constructed from raincoats and contact cement) into the frigid, strong currents of San Francisco Bay.

The Official Investigation

• The escape was discovered the next morning. A massive manhunt by the FBI, Coast Guard, and police ensued.
• They found some personal items (a wallet, photos, a homemade life vest) on nearby Angel Island, and pieces of the raft were found washed up.
• The official conclusion, after a 17-year investigation, was that the men most likely drowned in the cold, treacherous waters of the bay. Their bodies were never recovered.
• The case was closed in 1979, with the FBI stating the men were presumed dead.

The Case for Survival

Despite the official conclusion, there is compelling, though circumstantial, evidence that suggests they might have made it: 1. The Raft and Paddles: They were not amateurs. They had meticulously planned for years, were known to be intelligent, and had practiced on the raft in their cells. The fact that debris was found across