Even from jail, Gary had a considerable amount of influence on the boys. He would do all of the things fathers would do, just from behind bars. This level of influence would eventually lead to Raymond and Ricky planning and helping execute their father's prison break. Gary always had thoughts of escape and even had one failed attempt seven months earlier. Somehow, he got himself transferred to a medium security compound from the maximum-security prison. Gary also informed his sons one day that the break was two weeks away and told them they were taking another prisoner with them, Randy Greenawalt, who proves to be an asset to the b

On July 30, 1978 Raymond walked into the foyer of the prison and was later followed by Donny and Ricky, who were carrying a picnic basket filled with guns. They knew all the guards by name and were welcome. Greenawalt was in the control room about to take a two-way radio as a distraction when one of the officers saw him and tried to stop him. It was then that the officer noticed that Ricky pointing a shotgun to one of the sergeant's head. Greenawalt was passed a shotgun and a pistol and opened the gate for the boys, who tied up all the prison guards and put them in a storage closet. The three boys, their father, and Randy Greenawalt walked out to the family Ford. They took off and later switched cars to a Lincoln and drove all day sticking to back roads. As they were getting away, one of their tires blew, so they planned to get another car. (Kennedy, p290)

The police were given a tip where the Tison's may be heading, so they set up a roadblock, but were expecting to see a Mazda, since they didn't know that the gang had switched cars again. As the van approached the roadblock, Gary saw the roadblock and ordered Donny, who was driving, to run it, which he did, while Gary and Greenawalt leaned, out of the rear windows firing at the police. The police chased them in a high-speed gun battle, which eventually resulted in the van stopping at the second roadblock with Donny shot several times in the head. He later died from his wounds. Gary escaped to the desert, but was later found dead from exposure. Randy, Ricky and Raymond were all arrested. (Kennedy, p. 297)

Randy, Ricky, and Raymond were tried together for the prison break and the shootout at the roadblock and sentenced to thirty years to life. They were tried separately with Randy as the actual triggerman. Rick and Raymond would stand trial under the felony murder law which states that a person who commits a felony is liable for any death that occurs during the felony, which meant that the Tison brothers would most likely face the death penalty. They agreed to a plea bargain but later rescinded after learning they would have to implicate their mother in the breakout. The trial was quick and the brothers received the death penalty. They appealed to the Supreme Court. (Kennedy p. 298)

The court also used the case of Furman v Georgia to reestablish the constitutionality of the death penalty. The case did not make the death penalty unconstitutional, but the matter in which it was administered ten was unconstitutional. (Kennedy, p. 299)

reak. Greenawalt is the captain's clerk, so he has access to the control room. (Kennedy, p288-289)

During their getaway, they stopped by a friend of Greenawalt to request that she take out a loa

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1824
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)