Dougherty Gang Planned Prison Escape After Capture
Three siblings captured after a multistate crime spree, including robbing a Georgia bank and firing at a police officer, planned a brazen escape from a Colorado jail shortly after their detention.
Dylan Dougherty, 26, gout out of his cell in Walsenburg, Colorado, and passed a note to his sister, Lee Grace, advising her he would help break her out of the jail.
Deputies later discovered a homemade knife and a letter to the FBI in his cell, according to an arrest affidavit. They also uncovered a plumbing panel in Dylan’s cell had been tampered with. The letter to Lee Grace from Dylan was later found in her cell.
One of three siblings who was part of a multistate crime spree and nationwide manhunt planned to escape from a Colorado jail with his sister, telling jailers that he had enjoyed his stay, authorities said in a document released Friday.
Dylan Dougherty told his sister he planned to subdue the guards, steal their keys and escape with her. The note stated that when the FBI received the letter, he would be long gone from the Huerfano County Jail and he would leave the tools he used to escape behind, authorities said.
"I have enjoyed staying here, so don't take any of this personal," investigators quote the note as saying.
"The letter stated for Lee to have all her personal belongings ready, and that Dylan was going to get in through the ceiling to the control room where the detention staff are, and drop down on them," according to the affidavit. "He stated he would then tie them up and take the keys from them, and then they would just walk out."
The Doughertys and their brother, Ryan Dougherty, were captured in southern Colorado on Aug. 10 after a chase, capping a nationwide search. It's not clear if Ryan Dougherty is still being held in the same jail.
The three siblings are accused of robbing a Valdosta, Ga., bank and firing at a police officer in Zephyrhills, Fla., who was chasing their car when one of the suspects began shooting at his cruiser, disabling it, the FBI said.
Lee Grace Dougherty is set to go on trial Feb. 21 on attempted second-degree murder, assault and other charges related to the chase.
Dougherty was asked to pose naked at poker games over a period of weeks leading up to the robbery.
She professed on her Flickr feed: "I am a Floridian. Born and raised in Seminole County. I have a huge crazy family. I'm 28 but act like I'm 17 most of the time. I love to farm and shoot guys and wreck cars. I'm a redneck and proud of it. I like milk and German engineering and causing mayhem with my siblings.")
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
