The story of an escape of three prisoners from a prison facility near Kingman, Arizona in July garnered national headlines this summer. Police accuse John McClusky, one of the fugitives, of murdering a married couple in New Mexico while he was at-large from the prison. The mother of one of the alleged murder victims now seeks $10 million dollars from the State of Arizona. The woman has also brought a wrongful death lawsuit against Management Training Corp., the company that operates the privately prison facility.

The woman alleges the state was negligent by failing to maintain custody of the prisoners. She claims that personnel at the facility were not properly trained and supervised. She also contends that the state failed to promptly notify other law enforcement agencies after the escape occurred. Two hours reportedly elapsed between the escape and the time prison officials notified Arizona Corrections.

An investigation into the July 30 prison break reportedly has revealed that equipment failures at the prison were commonplace and frequently ignored. Investigators have indicated that McClusky's fiancée threw tools over the fence. Those tools were used to cut the fence and barbed wire. Prison staff reportedly ignored the security alarm that sounded when the fence was cut.

One of the fugitives headed to Colorado and was captured two days later. McClusky, his fiancée and Tracy Province, the other escapee, made their way to New Mexico. McClusky and Province allegedly hijacked a truck and camper trailer, forcing an Oklahoma couple into their truck at gunpoint. McClusky is alleged to have shot the couple in their trailer in a remote area of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Province was apprehended on August 9. McClusky and his fiancée were taken back into custody August 19.

Arizona Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan has reportedly declined to comment on the pending lawsuit. A spokesman for Management Training Corp. said the company has not yet reviewed the wrongful death claim and declined further comment.

Source: The Arizona Republic, "$10 million claim filed in inmate escape," J.J. Hensley 4 Sep 2010