Jake’s Corner resident tied to escapees

08/11/10

By Carolyn Wall

Connection Correspondent

A 68-year-old Jake’s Corner resident, Claudia Washburn, is in the Gila County Jail in Globe held on suspicion of assisting in the escape of her son, John McCluskey, 45, from a privately-owned medium security prison in Kingman, Arizona.

McCluskey was serving a 15-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm in Maricopa County.

U.S. Marshals arrested Washburn Saturday, August 7, on suspicion of aiding her son and two other fugitives by giving them financial aid and other support. McCluskey is accompanied by his fiancée, Casslyn Welch, 44, who had worked at the Jakes Corner Market with Washburn, and another escapee, 42-year-old Tracy Province. Province was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery.

A third prison escapee, 36-year-old Daniel Renwick, who was serving 22 years for second degree murder, was involved in a car chase and shoot-out with police in Rifle, Colorado and apprehended just days after the July 30 escape.

The inmates reportedly cut the wires of the fence surrounding the Kingman prison using wire cutters thrown to them by Welch.

McCluskey, Welch and Province reportedly hijacked a truck in Kingman, forced the driver to take them to Flagstaff, and got assistance from an acquaintance there to go to Jake’s Corner. They then headed east to New Mexico, driving a gold Nissan with Arizona license plates 620 PFV.

According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service sent Monday, August 9, McCluskey, Welch and Province went to Montana and Wyoming in the area of Yellowstone Park. On Monday, they reportedly left Yellowstone, and Province, who was traveling on his own, was apprehended in Meeteetsee, Wyoming.

According to the press release, at the time of his arrest, Province was carrying a hitchhiking sign with “Casper” written on it. He was also carrying a handgun. When he was arrested Province stated that he was relieved that he was caught. The arrest was a direct result of a tip placing him in the area.

Province is being held in the Hot Springs County Jail in Thermopolis, Wyoming pending extradition to Arizona.

McCluskey, Welch, and Province are now implicated in a murder of an elderly Oklahoma couple at a campground in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The couple’s camper was set on fire and their truck was found abandoned in Albuquerque, some 120 miles away.

The murder was reported just hours after Washburn was arrested Saturday at the gas station where she worked at Jake’s Corner.

Washburn had her initial appearance in Payson and is in custody in Globe on a $250,000 bond charged with conspiracy to commit escape, hindering prosecution and facilitation to commit a escape. She is expected to be charged on Monday by the Attorney General’s Office with one count of hindering prosecution.

U.S. Marshals are involved in a nationwide manhunt for the two remaining fugitives, McCluskey and Welch, and say they are tracking their movements.

Tom Henman, Supervisory Deputy, U.S. Marshals Office in Phoenix, said, “These two individuals are armed and dangerous and implicated in the murder of an elderly couple in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.”

Henman said the fugitives were “linked forensically” to the double homicide.

He advised anyone who had knowledge of the whereabouts of McCluskey and Welch to call police and to avoid confrontation with them. A $40,000 reward has been offered for information resulting in the capture of the escapees.

According to the press release, the pubic is advised to call local police with any information or to contact the ASP Kingman Escapees Task Force in Arizona at 602-542-1212. A reward has been offered for information leading to their capture.


	Jake’s Corner resident tied to escapees 08/11/10 By Carolyn Wall Connection Correspondent A 68-year-old Jake’s Corner resident, Claudia Washburn, is in the Gila County Jail in Globe held on suspicion of assisting in the escape of her son, John McCluskey, 45, from a privately-owned medium security prison in Kingman, Arizona. McCluskey was serving a 15-year sentence for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and discharging a firearm in Maricopa County. U.S. Marshals arrested Washburn Saturday, August 7, on suspicion of aiding her son and two other fugitives by giving them financial aid and other support. McCluskey is accompanied by his fiancée, Casslyn Welch, 44, who had worked at the Jakes Corner Market with Washburn, and another escapee, 42-year-old Tracy Province. Province was serving a life sentence for murder and robbery. A third prison escapee, 36-year-old Daniel Renwick, who was serving 22 years for second degree murder, was involved in a car chase and shoot-out with police in Rifle, Colorado and apprehended just days after the July 30 escape. The inmates reportedly cut the wires of the fence surrounding the Kingman prison using wire cutters thrown to them by Welch. McCluskey, Welch and Province reportedly hijacked a truck in Kingman, forced the driver to take them to Flagstaff, and got assistance from an acquaintance there to go to Jake’s Corner. They then headed east to New Mexico, driving a gold Nissan with Arizona license plates 620 PFV. According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service sent Monday, August 9, McCluskey, Welch and Province went to Montana and Wyoming in the area of Yellowstone Park. On Monday, they reportedly left Yellowstone, and Province, who was traveling on his own, was apprehended in Meeteetsee, Wyoming. According to the press release, at the time of his arrest, Province was carrying a hitchhiking sign with “Casper” written on it. He was also carrying a handgun. When he was arrested Province stated that he was relieved that he was caught. The arrest was a direct result of a tip placing him in the area. Province is being held in the Hot Springs County Jail in Thermopolis, Wyoming pending extradition to Arizona. McCluskey, Welch, and Province are now implicated in a murder of an elderly Oklahoma couple at a campground in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The couple’s camper was set on fire and their truck was found abandoned in Albuquerque, some 120 miles away. The murder was reported just hours after Washburn was arrested Saturday at the gas station where she worked at Jake’s Corner. Washburn had her initial appearance in Payson and is in custody in Globe on a $250,000 bond charged with conspiracy to commit escape, hindering prosecution and facilitation to commit a escape. She is expected to be charged on Monday by the Attorney General’s Office with one count of hindering prosecution. U.S. Marshals are involved in a nationwide manhunt for the two remaining fugitives, McCluskey and Welch, and say they are tracking their movements. Tom Henman, Supervisory Deputy, U.S. Marshals Office in Phoenix, said, “These two individuals are armed and dangerous and implicated in the murder of an elderly couple in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.” Henman said the fugitives were “linked forensically” to the double homicide. He advised anyone who had knowledge of the whereabouts of McCluskey and Welch to call police and to avoid confrontation with them. A $40,000 reward has been offered for information resulting in the capture of the escapees. According to the press release, the pubic is advised to call local police with any information or to contact the ASP Kingman Escapees Task Force in Arizona at 602-542-1212. A reward has been offered for information leading to their capture.