John and Charles Anglin, who federal officials believe died in an escape attempt from Alcatraz in 1962, may still be alive and possibly living in Brazil, relatives have told the History Channel.
The brothers and inmate Frank Morris created a makeshift raft from stolen raincoats in an attempt to float to the mainland, reported the
New York Post, but authorities believed the men drowned while crossing San Francisco Bay.
However, David and Ken Widner, nephews of the Anglin brothers, told the History Channel that the escapees' mother received Christmas cards from the men after the escape and a picture of them from the 1970s.
That evidence will get a public viewing on the History Channel special "Alcatraz: Search for the Truth," to air on Monday.
During the 29 years it operated as a federal prison, from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz served as the home for some of the country's most notorious criminals, including Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, said the
History Channel.
The facility, which sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay, first served as Navy fortification in the 1850s and then a military prison from 1861 to 1933 when the U.S. Department of Justice took control.
The Widner brothers said they wanted to come forward now to find out the truth of about their uncles while their mother, the escapees' sister, was still living, said
The Daily Mail. They recently shared their information with retired U.S. marshal Art Roderick, who originally worked on the case.
"When you work these types of cases there's a feeling you get when stuff starts to fall into place," said Roderick. "I'm getting this feeling now."
The Post said Roderick urged U.S. marshals to search for the men in Brazil.
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