Officials say the seven escaped by overpowering prison workers and a trusty. They changed into the workers' clothes and broke into a guard shack, where they stole weapons. They then fooled guards in charge of perimeter security and escaped in a prison worker's private vehicle. The prison break was well-planned and carried out in a disciplined, almost military way, authorities say. Police in the Houston suburb of Pearland say they have linked two of the escapees to a robbery of a Radio Shack store Dec. 15 in which police scanners and other radio equipment were taken.
Officers say they think the equipment is making it easier for the fugitives to elude police.
They are well organized and are being led by a cunning guy. Todd says the manhunt is the largest in recent history. Rivas, a career criminal who named his dogs Ruger and Beretta after popular makes of handguns, was serving a 99-year sentence for aggravated kidnapping and robbery. Police say they believe it was Rivas' plan to rob the Oshman's store in the Dallas suburb of Irving to get cash and more weapons. Rivas was convicted of robbing another Oshman's in El Paso in 1993.