Police check out new lead on escaped New York prisoners

June 20, 2015 12:00 am • Last Updated: June 20, 2015 11:16 pm

FILE - At left, in a May 21, 2015, file photo released by the New York State Police is David Sweat. At right, in a May 20, 2015, file photo released by the New York State Police is Richard Matt. New York State Police are investigating a possible sighting of the two convicted killers who escaped from an upstate New York prison two weeks ago. In a news release posted late Friday, June 19, 2015, State Police say two men fitting the description of inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt were seen a week ago in Steuben County, New York, over 300 miles southwest of the prison in Dannemora. (New York State Police via AP, File)

Friendship, N.Y. — State police are investigating a possible sighting of two convicted killers in New York's southern tier, about 350 miles from the prison where they escaped two weeks ago.

State police spokesman Beau Duffy said Saturday that officers got a lead that the prisoners might be in Allegany County, near the Pennsylvania border.

David Sweat and Richard Matt escaped June 6 from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, near the Canadian border.

On Friday, state police said in a news release that two men fitting the description of Sweat and Matt had been seen a week ago in Steuben County. Allegany County is west of Steuben County.

Officials also said Friday that a corrections officer was placed on administrative leave as part of the investigation into the men's escape.

Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.

STORIES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU