‘New York Prison Break: The Seduction of Joyce Mitchell,’ a Lifetime film based on true events, investigates the real-life story of a prison staffer who helped two convicted murderers escape from a maximum-security unit, resulting to a 22-day search.
Joyce Mitchell, it turns out, supported Richard Matt and David Sweat by providing them with equipment to carry out a ‘Shawshank Redemption-style‘ jailbreak.
So, now that this tense situation has been resolved, for the time being, let’s learn more about Joyce’s role in the case and where she is now.
Joyce Mitchell, Who is She?
In 2008, Joyce Mitchell began working at the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York as an industrial training administrator in the garment department.
In 2013, she moved to Tailor Shop 1, where she worked as a seamstress until the June 5, 2015, jailbreak.
Lyle, Joyce’s life partner, worked at the facility as well, although he seemed to be completely unaware of what was going on.
After all, Joyce’s behaviour with a few criminals, particularly David Sweat and Richard Matt, was bordering on inappropriate, according to inmate statements and multiple publications.
It was eventually discovered that the two inmates were pals and had purposefully seduced Joyce as part of their complex plan to gain freedom.
She had shown David naked photos of herself and had sexual experiences with Richard in the tailor shop. Joyce even confessed her feelings for them in private letters.
Must Read: ‘New York Prison Break: The Seduction of Joyce Mitchell,’ Lifetime Documentary – A True Story?
In 2015, she told detectives, “I was caught up in the fantasy.” “I liked the attention, the feeling they both provided me, and the idea of a different existence.”
As a result, when they asked Joyce for assistance in early 2015, she couldn’t say no.
Joyce sneaked hacksaw blades, a screwdriver, chisels, and a few more items into the prison with frozen hamburger meats that are delivered to criminals over the next few months.
She also gave Richard six knives and collected firearms, ammunition, camping equipment, and a compass.
Joyce had promised to meet the couple in a getaway car with the weapons and accompany them to Mexico, but she never showed up. Her actions left the outlaws without a clear plan, which led to their capture after 22 days.
Joyce, on the other hand, was arrested before — on June 12, 2015.
What Happened to Joyce Mitchell & Where Is She Now?
Joyce Mitchell was charged with first-degree promoting prison contraband and fourth-degree criminal facilitation, to which she pleaded guilty.
According to her testimony, she not only provided food and a way to contact the killers’ families, but she also knew about their plans to kill her husband, whom they referred to as “the glitch.”
They’d even given Joyce medicines to take to make him feel better. Joyce was sentenced to 2â…“ to 7 years in prison and ordered to pay over $80,000 in restitution and more than $6,000 in fees in September 2015.
“I’d take it all back if I could,” she stated as she cried throughout her hearing. “I can’t begin to express my regret… How much regret do I have? I am a 51-year-old woman.
And this is by far the biggest blunder of my entire life. Every day, and for the rest of my life, I live with regret.”
Joyce’s regret for her acts appeared genuine since she was an excellent inmate during her time in prison.
As a result, she was released from the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County, New York, on February 6, 2020, under community supervision.
Joyce will be supervised in Franklin County until June 2022 in the family home she shares with her devoted husband, Lyle Mitchell, according to records.
The clock is ticking. #NYPrisonBreak starring @PenelopeAMiller premieres tonight. pic.twitter.com/u2BgaCDVVl
— Lifetime (@lifetimetv) April 23, 2017
She was sentenced to 412 years in prison, and Lyle made it a point to see her every other weekend. According to what we can tell, the couple is still together, but they prefer to avoid public scrutiny, the media, and the spotlight.
Former New York Police Sergeant Joseph Giacalone, though, told A&E Real Crime that Joyce should have gotten a longer term.
