COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The last two of the Texas fugitives, feared as armed and dangerous, gave up peacefully in Colorado on Wednesday.
Patrick Murphy, 39, and Donald Newbury, 38, exited a hotel room backwards with their shirts off after police allowed them to be interviewed by a local television station.
During the interview, they degraded the Texas penal system. However, they expressed no sorrow for their alleged involvement in shooting a police officer in Texas.
“All of us in our heart of hearts believed this could have ended up in a gun battle. We are elated with the outcome,” mark Mershon, special agent in charge (FBI) of Colorado, said after the 5 hours and 45 minutes of negotiations.
Authorities allowed the two men to speak with a television reporter, who was in the command post at the hotel. Police later recovered two shotguns and 10 pistols in which all were loaded. Authorities can now account for all 60 weapons the seven had cumulated during their six-week escape.
The hotel where they were holed up in was very close to where authorities recovered an abandoned brown van alleged to have been driven by the two. They surrendered about 20 miles from where the rest of the gang was captured.
Police received a tip from a hotel employee who reported a “suspicious and evasive” guest. Police, not realizing the complaints was about the convicts, telephoned the room. They discovered they had found the last two, which caused officers and SWAT team members to surround the hotel.
During the interview, Murphy and Newbury were very outspoken about their view of the Texas prison system. “Maybe this will open the eyes of some people,” stated Murphy.
Newbury voiced his complaints about his attorney and how difficult it was to have his attorney visit him in prison. He stated that he had to “threaten to beat up” his attorney so he could get another one who would visit him in prison. He also complained that he was sent to prison for 99 years for a robbery that netted $68.
Murphy and Newbury stated the group went to Colorado to hide out at random because they were trying to get away from a blizzard in Texas after the Christmas robbery.
Each escapee spoke for approximately five minutes with local television reporter Eric Singer of KTTV. Singer also reminded them of their promise to surrender.
Mershon stated police were investigating the possibility that the seven fugitives may have had an accomplice assist them but did not elaborate.
Texas authorities have said they plan to seek the death penalty for the slaying of the police officer last month.