Prison Escapee to Face Death Penalty

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M (AP) -- An Arizona prison fugitive will face the death penalty if he's convicted of killing an Oklahoma couple in New Mexico, federal officials announced Thursday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office submitted this week an updated indictment against John McCluskey for the 2010 carjacking and shooting deaths of Gary and Linda Haas, both 61, from Tecumseh, Okla.

They were killed at a rest stop just inside the New Mexico state line, authorities said. Their remains were found with their burned-out camping trailer on a remote ranch in eastern New Mexico.

McCluskey was one of three inmates who broke out of an Arizona prison with the help of Casslyn Welch, 45, police said. Welch is McCluskey's cousin and fiance.

Tracy Province, 44, another runaway, and Welch both pleaded guilty Friday in connection with the slaying.

As part of the plea agreement, Province agreed to serve at least five consecutive life terms. Welch faces up to life in prison on at least two of the counts, prosecutors said.

McCluskey remains jailed and is scheduled for trial in March 2013.

His attorney, Theresa Duncan, did not immediately return a phone message.

Prosecutors said Haases had stopped at a rest stop just inside the New Mexico state line on their way to Colorado for an annual camping trip.

Court documents said Province and McCluskey forced themselves into the cab of the couple's pickup. The inmates were armed with guns and had targeted the Haases for their truck and camping trailer, prosecutors said.

The couple were forced to drive west on Interstate 40 with the two inmates as Welch followed in another vehicle. The Haases were then ordered to pull off onto a two-lane road, stop and enter their trailer.

Province and Welch waited outside while McCluskey went inside with the couple, prosecutors said. Gunshots rang out and the husband and wife were killed.

Welch pleaded guilty last year in Arizona to state charges of helping McCluskey, Province and Daniel Renwick flee a medium-security prison near Kingman. The escape sparked a nationwide manhunt.

Welch acknowledged throwing cutting tools onto the prison grounds. The three inmates used the tools to break through a perimeter fence and flee into the desert. Welch had also supplied the men with guns and money, and Renwick with a get-away vehicle.

Renwick was captured a day later after a shootout in western Colorado.

Province, McCluskey and Welch found themselves without transportation. Authorities said they kidnapped two truck drivers at gunpoint and forced the drivers to take them to Flagstaff.

Following the slayings in New Mexico, Province separated from McCluskey and Welch, and was arrested about a week later in Wyoming.

The escape cast a critical spotlight on Arizona's prison system. A report revealed a series of security breakdowns at the prison operated by Management and Training Corp., including alarms that went off so often that prison personnel just ignored them. The prison warden and a security official resigned.