The two killers who broke out of a New York prison three weeks ago may be headed for Canada, authorities said Friday.
Maj. Charles Guess of the New York State Police said he could not go into specifics, but "based on what we know at this point, we have a high degree of confidence in our conclusion."
David Sweat and Richard Matt were reported missing from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, on June 6.
Investigators believe the men are moving in the dark of night, and items that appear to belong to the men have been found in the northern towns of Belmont and Malone, according to Guess.
Multiple law enforcement sources tell NBC news that DNA belonging to at least one of the escaped prisoners was found at a cabin in Malone, a town located about 35 miles northwest of Clinton Correctional and around 10 miles south of the Canadian border.
Authorities believe Matt and Sweat have not yet crossed the Canadian border.
The break-in at the cabin in Malone was reported to police sometime between Wednesday and 3 p.m. Thursday, sources said. Evidence was recovered and sent for processing, and DNA tests indicate one of the men was at the cabin.
There were two reports of break-ins in Malone between Wednesday and 3 p.m. Thursday. State police records indicate those are "pending investigations."
Two prison workers — Gene Palmer, a guard, and Joyce Mitchell, a seamstress — have been arrested in connection with the breakout. They are suspected of helping Sweat and Matt.
