Joyce Mitchell arrested as manhunt continues for two escaped killers

Joyce Mitchell was arrested on Friday for helping two convicted murderers break out of prison in upstate New York.

Joyce Mitchell, 51, is accused of providing the convicts, David Sweat and Richard Matt with contraband and helping them escape Clinton Correctional Facility.

She is charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband, a felony, and fourth-degree criminal facilitation, a misdemeanor, police said.

Sweat and Richard Matt escaped almost a week ago from maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility in the town of Dannemora, sawing out of their cells with power tools before clambering through the works of the building and out through a manhole.

Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie said earlier Friday that Mitchell took contraband into the prison.

On Friday, the hunt expanded to include more than 800 law enforcement officers, working with search dogs and helicopters. More than 700 leads have been called in, the New York State Police said.

Agencies/Canadajournal