I know you’re not supposed to enjoy stories like this–especially when a few innocent people are killed along the way…but I love this story. They just don’t get worse or better than this in that Terrance Malick’s Badlands sort of way.
Authorities have been calling them a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, but that’s just off. Way off. Just because they’re male and female, that doesn’t make them a Bonnie and Clyde–nope, they’re much more Kit and Holly from Badlands.
John McClusky and Casslyn Welch. These two are the stupidest, get-r-done criminals who have been on the lam in ages. McClusky and Welch are lovers, you see? They’re also cousins. First cousins. Casslyn helped John escape from a northwest Arizona prison about three weeks ago, with a couple of other dudes, when she tossed a set of bolt cutters over a prison fence after the three incarcerated men pulled off a daring escape during a shift change. So much for prison security.
At that point, the two began their trek through the western United States. There were reported sightings that came in bunches and came in often. Sadly, a couple from Oklahoma, Gary and Linda Haas, were killed on August 4, and all signs are pointing to McClusky, Welch and another of the escaped prisoners, Tracy Province. Province was captured just a few days later.
The arrest of McClusky and Welch took place last night, when a U.S. Forest Service Ranger came upon an unattended campfire, and had a look-see around the site. He found a silver Nissan Sentra that had been parked amongst trees, as if it were being hidden. He grabbed the plate information, and then had a conversation with McClusky. After referencing the plates, U.S. Marshals were called in to do their thing.
The arrests took place peacefully, yet McClusky stated that he wished he would have shot the ranger when he had the chance. According to law enforcement officials, it was obvious that Welch was moving for a weapon as they arrived, but quickly changed her mind when she became aware of the amount of officers on the scene. The two are presently being held at the Apache County Jail in St. Johns, AZ.
(Image via: Long Island Press)
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