Female prison employee provided tools that helped NY prisoners escape

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Clinton Correctional Facility employee Joyce Mitchell "provided some form of equipment or tools" to Richard Matt and David Sweat, the two convicted murderers who escaped from that maximum-security prison in upstate New York, Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie told CNN on Friday.

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Investigators zeroed in on Mitchell -- whose relatives have denied as being involved in the breakout -- because of the earlier complaint, the source said.

State corrections officials declined to comment because of the ongoing investigation, but New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said authorities believe Mitchell planned to pick up the inmates after their escape. She changed her mind at the last minute, he said.

Her cell phone was used to call people connected to Matt, according to another source. It's unclear who made the calls, when they were made or whether Mitchell knew about them.

Mitchell told investigators that Matt made her feel "special," though she didn't mention being in love with him, a source familiar with the investigation said.

She has cooperated with investigators and answered all their questions.

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