While officials at the border between New York and Quebec are still vigilantly checking vehicles, locals say that the mood has lightened following the death of one of the two escaped convicts from Correctional Facility.
“There’s a lot of relief that they got one of them, but they certainly would like to get the other one, that’s for sure,” said Malone resident Ronald Steenberge.
While Richard Matt was shot and killed after refusing to surrender to police on Friday, his fellow escape David Sweat remains at large. Those living in the area, which has been inundated by law enforcement since the prison break three weeks ago, say they have faith that this will all be over soon.
“We weren’t really fearful, but cautious, you know?” said Sharon Tyrell, who lives in nearby Morrisonville. “Keeping our minds and our eyes open but we trust that our police […] have everything under control.”
However, until Sweat is apprehended, some will remain anxious. Steenberge said his Canadian girlfriend won’t come back to the U.S. until then.
“She was nervous,” he said. “She drove down through here yesterday when all the police were present and it made her quite nervous about it.”
