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The Unsolved Story of Mastermind Frank Morris and the 1962 Alcatraz Escape
To learn the full story, read my article on All That’s Interesting.
On a foggy night in June 1962, three men pulled off the impossible — they escaped from Alcatraz, the infamous prison once thought to be inescapable. Leading the escape plan was Frank Morris, a clever career criminal known for outsmarting the system. Along with brothers John and Clarence Anglin, Morris disappeared into the icy waters of San Francisco Bay, leaving behind one of the biggest mysteries in history.
Frank Lee Morris wasn’t your average criminal. By 13, he was already convicted of his first offense and sent to a juvenile detention center. At 16, he made his first successful escape, fleeing to Miami before being recaptured.
This early talent for escaping captivity became his signature skill.
Over the years, Morris escaped from multiple facilities, including a Florida prison in 1950. His criminal record was filled with charges of burglary, auto theft, and bank robbery — crimes that repeatedly landed him behind bars. By the 1950s, he was incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, ironically nicknamed…
