Reopening the Alcatraz Mystery

For years, the fate of the Alcatraz escapees was sealed in public opinion—they were gone, swallowed by the sea, a story echoed by a puzzled law enforcement. However, the 2013 discovery of a letter claiming survival from one of the escapees turned the tables on this long-held belief.

Amid skepticism about its authenticity, the letter remained a closely guarded secret within the police department. It underwent meticulous scrutiny until 2018 when it finally swayed enough belief to prompt action. Reacting to the emerging evidence, the Federal Bureau of Investigation decided to reopen the cold case, breathing new life into a mystery considered closed.