Q: Do you have an estimate on how much it cost New York to capture the two guys who escaped from prison? How many hours and how much money?
—Eddie Webster, Douglasville
A: Authorities haven't calculated the total cost of the manhunt to capture Richard Matt and David Sweat, but Clinton County, N.Y., District Attorney Andrew Wylie said early in the search that it was costing an estimated $1 million a day.
The manhunt lasted 22 days, ending after Matt was shot and killed on June 26 and Sweat was captured on June 28. They had escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y., on June 6.
More than 800 federal, state and local law enforcement officers participated in the search.
Joyce Mitchell, who worked in the prison’s tailor shop, has been charged with helping Matt and Sweat escape by smuggling hacksaw blades, chisels, a screwdriver bit and other tools.
She was supposed to drive a getaway car, but backed out, leaving Matt and Sweat to escape on foot.
Q: When and why did they change the name from Congressional Medal of Honor to just the Medal of Honor?
—Jeff Jones, Cartersville
A: The official name always has been the Medal of Honor, but often it's called the Congressional Medal of Honor, perhaps because it's awarded in the name of Congress.
The Medal of Honor, the highest military honor awarded by the U.S., was created for the U.S. Navy in 1861, the Army in 1862 and the Air Force in 1965.
There have been 3,495 recipients of the Medal of Honor. Of those, 79 are living.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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