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Who was Alfred Anglin?
Alfred Anglin was one of the three notorious inmates who attempted to escape from Alcatraz Prison on June 11, 1962. Along with his brother John Anglin and Frank Morris, he devised a plan to break out of their cells, climb to the roof, and raft to the mainland using raincoats. The escape was considered one of the most daring and ingenious in history, and inspired several books and movies, including the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood.
What happened to Alfred Anglin after the escape?
The fate of Alfred Anglin and his accomplices remains a mystery to this day. The official version of the authorities is that the three men drowned in the frigid and turbulent waters of San Francisco Bay, and that their bodies were either swept out to sea or eaten by sharks. According to the FBI, there was no credible evidence that they survived the escape, and the case was closed in 1979 .
However, some people believe that Alfred Anglin and his partners made it to the shore and lived in hiding for years. There have been several claims and clues that suggest that they survived, such as:
- A letter allegedly written by John Anglin in 2013, claiming that he, his brother, and Morris were still alive, but in poor health. The letter also asked for a deal with the authorities: if they were given medical treatment, they would reveal their location. The letter was sent to the San Francisco Police Department, but the FBI dismissed it as a hoax .
- A photo allegedly taken in Brazil in 1975, showing two men who resemble John and Alfred Anglin. The photo was given to the Anglin family by a friend of the escapees, who claimed that he had met them in South America. The photo was analyzed by a forensic expert, who concluded that there was a high probability that the men were the Anglin brothers .
- A deathbed confession by a former inmate of Alcatraz, who claimed that he had helped the Anglin brothers and Morris escape by providing them with information and tools. He also claimed that he had received Christmas cards from them for three years after the escape, and that they had told him that they were living in Brazil .
What was Alfred Anglin’s cause of death?
If Alfred Anglin did drown in the bay, as the authorities claim, then his cause of death was asphyxia due to water inhalation. This means that he suffocated because he could not breathe air, and his lungs filled with water. Drowning is a painful and traumatic way to die, and it can cause damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.
If Alfred Anglin did survive the escape, as some people claim, then his cause of death is unknown. He could have died from natural causes, such as old age, disease, or injury. He could have also died from unnatural causes, such as violence, accident, or suicide. There is no definitive evidence that proves or disproves his survival, and his death remains a mystery.
Conclusion
Alfred Anglin’s cause of death is one of the most intriguing and controversial questions in the history of Alcatraz. Depending on who you ask, he either drowned in the bay, or escaped to freedom. The truth may never be known, unless new and conclusive evidence emerges. Until then, Alfred Anglin’s cause of death remains a mystery.
