Alcatraz Guard Weighs In

In March 2018, on the 55th anniversary of Alcatraz’s closure, Jim Albright, the last guard to walk its corridors, shared his insights during a rare interview. Asked about the likelihood of the inmates’ survival following their infamous escape, he expressed his conviction.

“I believe they drowned, I really do,” he stated firmly. He argued that the harsh conditions of the escape would have made their survival nearly impossible. Jim also cast doubt on the authenticity of the letter purportedly from John, suggesting it might have been a desperate plea from someone else seeking medical cancer treatment rather than proof of the escapees’ success.