“The Texas 7” is an engaging true crime audiobook about the daring escape of seven inmates from a Texas maximum security prison on December 13, 2000. In Kennedy, Texas, seven dangerous convicts escaped the facility driving away in a Department of Corrections truck, and started a massive manhunt for their captures. Gary C. King shares the details behind their escape, and explains how they pulled it off. J. Scott Bennett does a terrific job as the narrator of this gripping story.
Unlike the escape from Alcatraz, these fugitives were not bank robbers, but were serving hard time for sexual assaults, child abuse, and murder. the mastermind, George Angel Rivas Jr., would confess to the brutal death of police officer Aubrey Hawkins in Irvin, Texas, during their time on the run, and would receive the death penalty. Rivas stated that he didn’t want to die an old man in prison, and was executed at age 41.
The escapees left a note after leaving the prison conveying that authorities hadn’t heard the last of them. The seven convicts would be featured on television’s “America’s Most Wanted” three times. King tracks their movements, first robbing a Radio Shack in Houston. An employee asked if he could have his keys and credit cards back, and surprisingly, his wishes were granted. Finally, thanks to a viewers tip, the Texas 7 were tracked down at a R.V. Park in Woodland Park, Colorado. When authorities moved in, one escapee decided to take his life,
The author does a fantastic job of explaining how this happened, and outlines what the internal review process and details the findings. There were fingers being pointed, and officials were under much scrutiny. King also examines why it took so long for these dangerous criminals to be captured. As you might image, many claimed to have spotted the fugitives across the country, including tips coming in from New York and Utah. In the end, the state executed four of the seven, one committed suicide, and two remain on death row as of this review.
By: Gary C. King
Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
Release date: 08-14-17
Publisher: Gary C. King Enterprises