The Great Texas Prison Escape

Prison escapes are rare—and when they happen, they usually end fast. But in 2000, seven inmates from a high-security Texas prison pulled off one of the most daring, coordinated, and dangerous escapes in U.S. history.

They weren’t just career criminals — they were violent offenders, some serving life sentences. After escaping, they committed armed robbery, murder, and managed to elude capture for over a month.

They became known as The Texas Seven.

Here’s the true story of how they broke free, stayed hidden, and how the manhunt finally caught up with them.

🔒 The Prison: Connally Unit, South Texas

The Connally Unit was considered “secure.” Guard towers, steel bars, lockdown cells — all of it surrounded by barbed wire in Kenedy, Texas.

But these weren’t ordinary prisoners.

The escapees included:

George Rivas – the ringleader, serving life for multiple armed robberies and kidnapping

Larry Harper, Joseph Garcia, and Michael Rodriguez – all convicted of murder or attempted murder

Four others, equally dangerous, with violent pasts

They were smart. Calculating. And they wanted out — no matter what it cost.

📆 The Day It Happened: December 13, 2000

Just after lunchtime, the group made their move. Wearing stolen maintenance uniforms, they blended in as they walked across the prison.

Step by step, they executed a perfect plan:

Overpowered civilian workers and guards

Stole clothing, ID badges, tools, weapons, and a radio

Tied up and locked away 14 people without being noticed

Cut phone lines and stole a prison truck

By the time anyone realized what was happening, the Texas Seven were gone—slipping through the back gate in a stolen prison truck, dressed as maintenance men.

It was flawless.

🚨 The Manhunt Begins

When news of the escape broke, Texas authorities went on high alert. The FBI got involved. State lines were checked. Airports and bus stations were monitored.

But the Texas Seven were prepared. They:

Changed their appearances

Used stolen identities

Split up and communicated using burner phones

For weeks, they stayed hidden, while police scrambled to keep up.

💰 The Robbery and the Murder

On Christmas Eve, just 11 days after the escape, the fugitives robbed a Sporting Goods store in Irving, Texas — planning to steal enough guns and cash to stay on the run indefinitely.

But during the heist, a police officer — Aubrey Hawkins, 29 years old — responded to the alarm.

The escapees ambushed him, shot him 11 times, and ran over his body with their stolen SUV.

Officer Hawkins died at the scene.

The case was now more than an escape — it was murder, and the manhunt became a full-blown national crisis.

👤 America’s Most Wanted

The story gained national attention when “America’s Most Wanted” aired a segment on the Texas Seven in early January 2001.

The tip line exploded with calls. One caller recognized them — staying in a motorhome in Colorado.

Just days later, the FBI surrounded the area.

🚓 The Final Standoff

On January 22, 2001, the FBI raided the motorhome compound in Woodland Park, Colorado. Five of the fugitives were arrested without incident.

But Larry Harper, one of the most dangerous members, refused to surrender.

As agents closed in, Harper pulled out a gun and shot himself, choosing death over prison.

⚖️ The Trials and the Aftermath

Of the original seven:

One died by suicide (Harper)

The other six were tried and convicted of capital murder for the killing of Officer Hawkins

All were sentenced to death.

As of today, four have been executed by lethal injection:

George Rivas (2012)

Michael Rodriguez (2008)

Joseph Garcia (2018)

Donald Newbury (2015)

One remains on death row. The last is serving life.

🧠 Why Did It Work — and Then Fail?

The Texas Seven succeeded because:

They planned for months

They exploited routine and trust in the prison

They were cold, tactical, and motivated

But they failed because:

They became reckless

They committed murder, triggering full FBI attention

They couldn’t resist robbing for supplies, drawing too much heat

🧩 Inside the Mind of the Ringleader: George Rivas

George Rivas, the mastermind, later said in an interview:

“We weren’t trying to hurt anyone. We just wanted to be free.”

But that freedom came at the cost of a young officer’s life — and it sealed their fate.

🚔 Lessons from the Texas Seven Escape

1. Even “Secure” Prisons Can Fail

Routine becomes weakness. The Texas Seven used knowledge of prison operations against the guards.

2. Desperate People Are Dangerous

These weren’t kids on a joyride. These were lifers with nothing to lose.

3. Crime Doesn’t End With Escape

Their crimes escalated, and one bad decision—robbing a store on Christmas Eve—led to their downfall.

🕯️ In Memory of Officer Aubrey Hawkins

Aubrey Hawkins had only been on the force for 5 years. He left behind a wife and young son.

His death became a symbol of the dangers police face—and the high cost of one of America’s boldest prison breaks.