tillie mitchell just after 5:00 p.m. tonight. the sheriff saying he's been getting her cell ready all week long. tonight in the pouring rain, armetroops patrolling a small town. joyce "tillie" mitchell may be in custody tonight, but the inmates are still on the loose. >> we have a message. we're coming for you, and we will not stop until you're caught. >> reporter: mitchell, who supervised the shop in the prison, has been formally charged. did she provide tools and equipment to the inmates? >> based on our investigation, she has not provided power tools. >> reporter: authorities questioned her about whether she was supposed to drive the getaway car. last year, officials looked into whetr she was having a relationship with one of the escaped prisoners, david sweat, but nothing was uncovered. on the ground here, the search expanding. atvs plunging into the forest. in the skies, blackhawk helicopters on the patrol. the search is intensifying. a resident saying they thought they heard a gunshot. no word on what that might have been. but another sign of a town on edge. schools are closed, and road blocks preventing non-residents from entering. officer after officer is j

. >> reporter: tonight, prosecutors claim that behind these walls, prison worker joyce tillie mitchell schemed with two convicted murderers helping them to escape and plotting to kill her husband, lyle. >> what about that alleged murder-for-hire plot? >> the information we had from joyce mitchell is that that occurred. >> reporter: authorities today revealing new details about mitchell's alleged relationship with both men. she was investigated last year for becoming too close with one of them, david sweat. he was then transferred out of the tailor shop where she worked. and soon after, the prosecutor tells me, mitchell began an affair with the other killer, richard matt. >> she made the allegations or statements to us that there was a sexual relationship, a very limited relationship. >> in the tailor shop? >> in the tailor shop. >> reporter: as for her husband lyle -- >> mr. mitchell, gio benitez, abc news. >> reporter: investigators are talking to him, but he's not talking to us. >> what do you make of the reports that she was trying to have you killed? >> reporter: the murderers, of

we're awaiting for the arraignment of joyce tilly mitchell. she's facing up to seven years in prison. after 600, 700 leads, authorities still do not have a single bit of hard evidence that could lead them to the two killer escapees. sean. >> trace, let me go back to this whole relationship between richard matt and joyce mitchell. she told investigators that he made her feel special, although she didn't admit being in love with him. look what she gave them over a period of time in terms of tools. lighted eye glasses, drill bits and much much more the hack saw blades and other items given to them was given over a number of months a period of time. do we have any idea how that she possibly got those tools, not only in the prison but in their hands? >> the people who have served time in that prison say over the course of months she worked in the tailor shop it would be easy each week or months to give them different tools and contraband. that's the way they believe she snuck it to them. she denies she gave them any kind of power tools to break thr

joyce tillie mitchell a supervisor was arrested and charged with assisting the two break free. >> what did she give them? >> hacksaw blades. drill bits. a p tool. and a couple pairs of eyeglasses that have lights on them. she later provided batteries. >> joyce pleaded not guilty to her arraignment. prosecutors say mitchell and convicts alleged leap discussed a plot to kill her husband of 14 years and that sweat and matt planned the escape for five months. mitchell allegedly smuggling in tools and hamburger meat into the two convicts. according to authorities, she was supposed to be the driver of the getaway car on the outside but was hospitalized instead due to panic attacks. >> she advised us she had taken the hacksaw blade, some of the other tool the screwdriver bit, placed them into hamburger and then a correction officer would come and collect it and then bring it into inmate matt. in a block. >> reporter: then another officer gene palmer, first suspended then arrested. >> did you have haeng toanything to dupe with their escape? >> no comment at this time. i am here on my own free

sources tell us investigators have questioned joyce tilly mitchell a 51-year-old prison employee, about her possible involvement. >> she was befriended or she befriended the inmates and may have had some sort of role in assisting them. >> reporter: sources say in the past year prison officials investigated whether mitchell, who supervises the prison's tailor shop had a relationship with one of the escapees but concluded there was not enough evidence. sources say police are now investigating whether she had agreed to meet the prisoners to drive a getaway car but instead checked herself into a hospital complaining of a panic attack. >> if you believe the joyce mitchell version of this case where she was supposed to be the getaway driver the presumption would be they popped their head out of the manhole cover within you know sight of the prison. and no joyce, no car. and so at that point, they're sort of lost. how are they going to get out of the area? >> reporter: but her son came to her defense, speaking to nbc news. >> she is not the kind of person that's going to risk her life or other

sources tell us investigators have questioned joyce tilly mitchell a 51-year-old prison employee, abouthem. >> reporter: sources say in the past year prison officials investigated whether mitchell, who supervises the prison's tailor shop had a relationship with one of the escapees but concluded there was not enough evidence. sources say police are now investigating whether she had agreed to meet the prisoners to drive a getaway car but instead checked herself into a hospital complaining of a panic attack. >> if you believe the joyce mitchell version of this case

but joyce "tillie" mitchell just taken into custody, accused of helping them break out. the noose tightening in one community in particular. dogs picking up the scent. gio benitez is there. good evening. >> reporter: amy, good evening to you. state troopers arrested mitchell just after 5:00 p.m. tonight. tonight in the pouring rain armed troops patrolling a small town. mitchell may be in custody tonight, but the inmates are still on the loose. she has now been formally charged. >> based on our investigation, has not provided power tools. >> reporter: authorities questioned her about whether she was supposed to drive the getaway car. on the ground here, the search expand expanding. atvs plunging into the forest. the search is intensifying. a resident saying they thought they heard a gunshot. no word on what they might have been. but schools are closed and road blocks preventing people from entering. people here told to keep their porch lights on at night. folks like laurie stacey taking extra precautions. >> when i go to bed, yeah i'm scared. i have a loaded shotgun next

sources tell cbs news, joyce tilly mitchell says she had sex multiple times with rich chart matt -- richard matt. we have more from western new york where the manhunt is in its 11th day. >> reporter: wearing prison clothes and a bullet proof vest, joyce mitchell appeared in court for a second time. she previously pled not guilty to charges that she helped david sweat and matt richard escape. there was an agreement between mitchell and the two men to kill her husband lyle. unknown at this time is whether mitchell was in on the murder plot or if it may have been an attempt by matt and sweat to force mitchell to help them escape. stephen johnston is mitchell's new attorney. >> i will just say that she's very upset. she's distraught. >> reporter: law enforcement sources confirm to cbs news that mitchell told investigators she had sex multiple times with richard matt inside the prison. on sunday clinton district attorney andrew wiley would not confirm a sexual relationship but said this. >> obviously joyce mitchell went a step further in a relationship with these two individuals, whether it's sh

among those, joyce tillie mitchell. sources telling abc news investigators are looking into whether she was supposed to pick them up in a getaway car after their escape saturday. but instead checked herself into a hospital for a panic attack. sources say within the past year prison officials investigated whether mitchell who supervises the prison's tailor shop had a relationship with one of the vick david sweat, but concluded there wasn't enough evidence. meanwhile, here in the search area police are stopping every car and reminding people who live nearby to lock up. concerned because now after a week on the run these dangerous men could be getting desperate. t.j. and brandi. >> all right, marci gonzalez for us thank you so much. >>> turn to cleveland, a judge there says two cleveland cops should be charged in the death of 12-year-old tamir rice. he was shot and killed within two seconds of the officers' arrival at this park last november. rice was holding a nonlethal pellet gun at the time. the judge's ruling is only a

among those facing questions, prison employee joyce tillie mitchell.s investigators are looking into whether shech was supposed to pick them up in a get away car after their escape but instead checked into the hospital for a panic attack. sources say within the past year prison officials investigated whether mitchell who supervises the prison tailor shop that a relationship with david sweat. but concluded there wasn't enough evidence. meanwhile here in the ser. area police are stopping every car and reminding people who live nearby to lock up. concerned because now after almost a week on the run, these dangerous men could be getting desperate. t.j. brandi. >> marci. thank you. there is new support this morning for the protesting the police shooting of a 12-year-old boy in cleveland. municipal judge says there is enough evidence to charge the white officer with the murder of tamir rice who was black. he also said another officer should be charged with negligent homicide in the case. the judge was ruling on a petition filed by community activists. >> tod

. >> reporter: tonight, joyce tillie mitchell is seeing the jailhouse bars from the other side. wearing that black and white jail outfit as she faces a judge, a far cry from the prison tailor shop where she met convicted murders david sweat and richard matt who the prosecutors says convinced her to help them break free. >> matt was giving her that friendship, i guess, that she basically groomed her to the point of assisting them in escaping from clinton correctional. >> reporter: now sweat and matt planned the escape for five months they say. mitchell allegedly smuggling speed bag boxing glove, lighted eyeglasses and the blades and tools used to bust out. then she was to be the driver of the getaway car. there's the prison right there and right over here that can the managehole where those two men emerged from. then prosecutors say the men were supposed to walk just 2 1/2 blocks that's where mitchell was going to pick them up right here at this power plant. according to prosecutors the plan was to drive seven hours to remote woods. only accessible by atvs but mitchell never show

sources tell us investigators have questioned prison employee joyce tillie mitchell about whether she was supposed to drive that car on friday night and meet the murderers. but instead checked herself into a hospital complaining of a panic attack. sources say in just the past year, prison officials investigated whether tillie mitchell, who supervises the prison's tailor shop, had a relationship with one of the escapees, david sweat, but concluded there was not enough evidence. in an interview with abc news, sweat's mother begging her son to turn himself in. >> i love you and get back where you belong before you get hurt. >> reporter: local officials tell us they think they found the spot where the prisoners spent some nights, but so much tonight still unknown. >> they could either be four miles from the prison, or they could be in mexico. you just don't know. >> and gio is with us now live from upstate new york. and, gio, you reported there more than 500 officers in that small town. you heard the governor there just a moment ago. are they really convinced those prisoners could still b

among those facing questions, prison employee joyce "tillie" mitchell.eir escape saturday, but instead, checked herself into a hospital for a panic attack. sources say within the past year, prison officials investigated whether mitchell, who supervises the prison's tailor shop, had a relationship with one of the convicts, david sweat, but concluded there wasn't enough evidence. meanwhile, here in the search area, police are stopping every car and reminding people who live nearby to lock up. concern, because now, after more than a week on the run, these dangerous men could be getting desperate. t.j. and brandi? >> okay, marci, thank you. >>> there is new support this morning for those protesting the police shooting of a 12-year-old boy in cleveland. a municipal judge says there's enough evidence to charge the white officer with the murder of tamir rice, who was black. he also said another officer should be charged with negligent homicide in this case. the judge was ruling on a petition filed by community activists. >> today as citizens, we are taking this

sources tell us investigators have questioned prison employee joyce tillie mitchell about whether sheupposed to drive the car on friday night and meet the murderers. but instead checked herself into a hospital complaining of a panic attack. sources say in just the past year, prison officials investigated whether tillie mitchell who supervises the prison's tailor shop had a relationship with one of the escapees, david sweat. but concluded there was not enough evidence. >> they could be either four miles from the prison or could be in mexico. you just don't know. >> reporter: investigators here in the search area are bringing more and more flood lights. gio benitez, abc news, new york. >> a judge says two cleveland cops should be charged in the death of 12-year-old tamir rice. he was shot and killed within two second of the officers' arrival at this park last november. rice was holding a nonlethal pellet gun. the judge's ruling is not a -- is only i should say, is only a recommendation. any charges against police must come from a grand jury. >> a line of severe storms is battering much

they are now investigating whether joyce "tillie" mitchell may have helped the convicts escape becausewas trying to have you killed? officials believe the trail of the killers has gone cold and are wondering if they had someone else helping them beyond mitchell, who has pleaded not guilty. >> i don't know for any reason for a fact that she's plan "a," plan "b" or plan "c." i would find it hard to believe, with the time that they've had to plan that and to think that out and to set so much up to get to that point, that they would have taken along somebody, you know basically that would have been baggage to them. >> reporter: and abc news learning that david sweat and richard matt planned for months, exploring the underground pipes they used to escape even leaving themselves notes with directions in those tunnels. and now, matt's prison artwork, pictures of celebrities like julia roberts, now part of the case. investigators desperate for any clues about how they could escape undetected. 800 officers have been scouring this whole area for 11 days now. we're learning authorities may be sca

. >> reporter: 51-year-old joyce mitchell nicknamed tilly is a training supervise at the correctionalacility where she worked with the two escapees. a source close to the investigation says authorities believe she was going to drive the getaway car for them after their escape. but at the last minute she changed her mind. mitchell has been, quote, extremely cooperative with investigators according to the local d.a. she's not been arrested or charged. her son toby told nbc news she's not the kind of person that would help inmates escape. on a possible relationship with richard matt. >> she wouldn't have an affair against my father and definitely not with an inmate. >> he is referring to his step father. i spoke to joyce mitchell's former brother in law, thomas primo. he doesn't think highly of his sister-in-law. >> she likes the wild side of people. looking for the ones that are troubled. >> i asked about her short marriage to her brother. >> rocky, very rocky. she cheated on my brother and that broke his heart. >> reporter: he says he hasn't seen mitchell in 25 years. cnn made multiple

her former brother-in-law told us joyce mitchell, nicknamed tillie, cheated on her former husband and sought out danger. >> she likes the wild side of people, i guess, always looking for the ones that are, you know, a little bit troubled. >> reporter: psychiatrist daniel lieberman, who's worked with violent inmates, says killers like matt and sweat are masters of manipulation. >> they probably got her to talk about herself. they learned probably some of her deepest secrets. and they found her weaknesses. these are dangerous, violent human beings that everybody fears. when they come up to somebody and they smile at them and they say, you're our friend, that could be very seductive. >> reporter: the d.a. says for most of the week, joyce mitchell had been "extremely cooperative," had voluntarily sought officials out, had come in every day, providing critical information. that all could change now that she's been formally charged in the case. brian todd, cnn, washington. >>> and we are getting some breaking news here into the cnn newsroom about that situation that is playing out in dallas

joyce tilly, the prison tailor mitchell and her husband lyle. and we learned the correctional facility has been shut down. and the search area has now changed. the latest on all of it from our randi kaye, who joins us. let's begin with the search area. shifting again. do they think these guys are still in the area of the prison? >> reporter: they do, anderson, and they're certainly hoping so. they've already searched 16 square miles, about 10,000 acres. the area is shifting, and that really is based on the 1,400 leads that they have now. the information that they're getting from those leads is telling them to shift to a different area. but still here nearby the prison, they're shifting the roadblocks, they're shifting the k9 units. the lead investigator told us they don't have any hard evidence that these guys have left town, that they're not in this area. they don't have any reports of a stolen car that they may have taken to get out of town. they're working off the evidence that they have, which tells them that they are still right here. and o

what we are learning is somebody complained about a questionable relationship between joyce mitchell, known as tillie one of the inmates we believe may have been david sweat. though there have been insinuations it was with the other man also working in the tailor shop. unclear as to what the questionable relationship was about. correctional officers we do know did investigate. when the two escaped, investigators were very quickly able to turn their attention onto this woman, simply because of her earlier connection to the two individuals. >> that's why they were able to check her cell phone notice it had been used to contact some associates? >> that's exactly right. multipleto -- to associates of richard matt. either she made the calls on their behalf or alternatively the two inmates took the phone and made the calls themselves. that is a big indication as to who were they talking to outside of the prison walls? who did they expect possibly to help them when they did ultimate low escape? >> we don't know for sure. it is -- it's -- "the wall street journal" and abc, has been reporting that the relatio

. >> reporter: joyce mitchell anymore named tilly, is an industrial trainer where she worked with the escapees. a source says authorities believe she was going to drive the getaway car after their escape. but at the last minute, she changed her mind. she has been "extremely cooperative with investigators" according to the local d.a. she has not been arrested order charges. her son told nbc news she's not the kind of person who would help inmates escape. on a possible relationship with richard matt -- >> she wouldn't have an affair against my father. it wouldn't be with an inmate. there's no truth to that. >> reporter: he is referring to her current husband, his stepfather. i spoke with joyce's former brother-in-law. he doesn't think very highly of his former sister-in-law. >> she likes the wild side of people. always looking for the ones that are a little bit troubled. >> reporter: i asked about joyce mitchell's short marriage to his brother. >> rocky. very rocky. >> reporter: he hasn't seen mitchell in 25 years. cnn made requests but neither joyce, her ex-husband or their biological

joyce mitchell. they call her tilly. in addition to that she is also a public official the town tax collector of dickinson, new york. she was questioned by prison officials on sunday. when doing this sort of questioning, i wonder where one begins. >> well in the case of the people that are questioning her, they start at the beginning of what do you know about these people and they ask right away were you involved in any way in helping them escape because they want to try to get this resolved as quickly as possible the obvious public and law enforcement safety aspect. but to take you back many years ago, you probably remember the hunter rudolph in north carolina. george was a long-time family friend. hunter went to him and got food stole his pickup truck and ended up in the woods. it prompted the same type of thing we're seeing now. we thought nordman was involved but it turned out he didn't know what rudolph was up to. there are so many ways this thing can go. all these questions that come with more questions. >> it's re

. >> joyce mitchell now known as tillie in custody. that's not all. she has been linked by investigators to both cop killer david sweat and torture murderer richard matt. not only did she allegedly have some kind of relationship with both men, her husband is also potentially connected. we don't know how. he is under investigation though. he has yet to be charged with anything we should point out. and on top of all that, of course the two straervery dangerous men, killers are out there some where. tillie may be in custody. they certainly are not. we begin our complete coverage with alexandra field on the arrest and arraignment. she joins us now. what else did the d.a. have to say about joyce mitchell? >> reporter: well anderson this is the woman police believe was meant to drive the getaway car but never showed up at the prison when the fugitives escaped. she has been arrested. she will be arraigned tonight. then the woman who worked at a maximum security prison will likely be booked into this county jail. all of this going down today. investigators sa

we're learning that someone complained about a questionable relation shen between joyce mitchell who's also known as tilly and one of the inmates, which we believe may have been david sweat. though there have been some sinuations with the other man who was working with the tailor shop. unclear as to what the questionable relationship was about. the corrections officers did investigate. and when the two escaped, i believe investigators were very quickly able to turn their attention to this woman simply because of her connection. >> and that's why they were able to check her cell phone and know it was used to contact some associates? >> that's exactly right. multiple calls were made to an associate, richard max. they believe she made those calls on her behalf or alternatively, they took that phone and made that cole themselves. that's a bigger indication. who were they talking to outside of the prison walls and who did they expect to possibly help them when they did ultimately escape. >> so we don't know for sure i know the wall street journal and abc has been reporting that their relationship may have been

about the search and a deadly detail of the escape plan one that might land joyce mitchell the prison seem stress known as tilly legal trouble if she had a part in it. word that had she not gotten cold feet about being the get-away driver her husband might not be alive today. randy kay has just confirmed that potential. >> they did

about the search and a deadly detail of the escape plan one that might land joyce mitchell the prison seem stress known as tilly, in a lot more legal trouble if she had a part in it. word that had she not gotten cold feet about being the get-away driver her husband might not be alive today. randy kay has just confirmed that potential. >> they did indeed have a plan to kill lyle mitchell. as you know he is the husband of joyce mitchell the prison steamstress now accused in helping these two men get away from that prison. what's unclear is why they intended to kill lyle mitchell when they intended to kill lyle mitchell and how much joyce mitchell actually knew about that plan. we know she was aware of it but the question is did she know all the details that there was a plan in place to kill her husband? the same source also telling me tonight, anderson that joyce mitchell was having a sexual relationship with richard. he killed and dismembered his neighbor. it's unclear, anderson tonight how long that sexual relationship was going on but all of this new information coming to us tonight as we are learning more abo

. >> thomas primo says joyce mitchell met his brother when they were very young and that she goes by the nickname tilly. primo does not think very highly overall of his former sister-in-law. >> there's a wild side of people i guess. always looking for the ones that are a little bit trouble. >> thomas premo admits he has not seen joyce mitchell in at least 25 years. cnn has made multiple requests but neither joyce mitchell her ex-husband or their biological son could be reached for comment. >> if she's involved you would think that authorities might charge her. are they going to? >> reporter: it's a very delicate situation on that. a new york state official tells cnn authorities are holding off charging her on the moment concerned that if they take any legal action against her, she might stop cooperating. the clinton county district attorney has declined to comment on any decision regarding that. >> all right, brian todd, thank you so much. i appreciate it. joining me now, we have cnn's paulo sandoval. he is outside of the super max prison where the convicts escaped. give us the latest from there. >> re

joyce mitchell. there she is screen left. also known as tilly.ng their first -- her first marriage. she had two affairs during the five years. she was caught outside the prison having relations with the man she eventually married. >> people didn't like how close she was getting with the prisoners here. she had been investigated in recent months by the state corrections department. after a fellow prison worker complained she had gotten too close to sweat and matt. there was no discipline as a result of that investigation. and as we now know for years prison employees and inmates are prohibited from having relations like this. >> richard matt and david sweat had access to her cell phone and smuggled power tools from her. she's in a lot of trouble, the grandmother who is 51 years old. >> one of the things about what they did. according to the experts, they preyed on her. michael was on with megyn kelly last night and talked about how these guys in the joint manipulate people to get what they want. there is something called the prison bibles. listen