The TEXAS 7 - The Most DARING Prison Escape Ever & 7 DANGEROUS Men With NOTHING TO LOSE Wreak HAVOC!

On December 13th, 2000, seven inmates incarcerated at John B. Connelly Unit near Kenedy, Texas made one of the most daring and elaborate escapes ever successfully pulled off at a maximum security facility.  The seven men had originally committed various heinous but unrelated crimes and were all serving severe prison sentences.  But they became a dangerous unit whose reckless and deadly behavior during the escape caused massive anger and tragedy within the community.  The group became known as the Texas Seven, something that sounds straight out of the Old West.  In today's video, we'll look into this riveting escape and the tragic outcome - the result of 7 dangerous criminals being on the loose with nothing to lose.  They had become absolutely desperate - and without morals or a willingness to surrender - their desperation resulted in multiple deaths. 

George Angel Rivas Jr., the ringleader of the Texas 7,  was born in El Paso, Texas on May 6th, 1970.  He was raised by his grandmother after his parents divorced and graduated High School in 1988.  Teachers said he was very bright and could've been student body president, but he was always a kid who thought the rules did not apply to him.  While some who knew him described him as polite, kind, and charismatic, others said he was a cunning and conniving master manipulator.  

The Texas 7

Rivas began his criminal career while still in High School, participating in home burglaries and robberies of various businesses.  In 1987, he was caught robbing a Payless Shoe Source, but the case ended in a mistrial.  He was busted again for a home burglary in 1989 and placed on probation.  He continued to participate in burglaries, but they were becoming more and more sophisticated.  Rivas hired a team, and used walkie-talkies and meticulous planning to minimize the risk of failure.  These skills would be put to use to plan and execute the Texas 7 Prison Escape.  

Despite taking measures to prevent failure during his crime spree, failure occurred anyway during a robbery of a Toys R Us near Sunland Park Mall.  Police showed up quicker than expected and a hostage situation ensued, with employees handcuffed on the inside.  More than 100 officers participated in the rescue operation and Rivas was eventually arrested.  During his trial in 1994, the District Attorney said, "George Rivas is one of the most dangerous men in El Paso.  He is one of the most dangerous men in Texas."  He was given multiple life sentences.  

George Rivas

Sent to serve his time in what appeared to be the inescapable John B. Connelly Unit, Rivas quickly used his charm and charisma to befriend not only fellow inmates, but the prison guards as well.  He selected a few primary inmates to be part of his escape team - inmates who like him, had nothing to lose.  They included six of the worst of worst - criminals who committed terrible crimes and faced decades if not life in prison.  

Joseph Christopher Garcia.  Convicted of murder in a 1996 drunk altercation.  Sentenced to 50 years.

Randy Ethan Halprin.  Convicted of child abuse after fracturing the skull, arms and legs of a 16-month old.  Sentenced to 50 years.

Larry James Harper.  Convicted of three counts of rape in which he blindfolded, beat, and sexually assaulted his victims.  Sentenced to 50 years.

Patrick Henry Murphy Jr.  Convicted of aggravated sexual assault after breaking into a woman's home and assaulting her at knifepoint.  Sentenced to 50 years.

Donald Keith Newbury. Convicted of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.  Sentenced to 99 years.

Michael Rodriguez.  Convicted of capital murder for hiring a hitman to kill his wife in order to collect $250,000 in life insurance.  Sentenced to life in prison.

Michael Rodriguez

Rivas identified the maintenance workshop as the spot for the best chance to make their move as it was mostly supervised by maintenance workers, who were civilians, and as such, unarmed.  As Christmas was nearing, Rivas used his relationships with the guards to find out that there would be a staff Christmas Party on December 13th around noon.  This would indicate a better chance of escape on that day as less guards would be on duty.  

Still, simply slipping out of this maximum security prison completely unnoticed would not be a feasible option.  Guns would be needed and some violence would have to take place to subdue any one in their way.  On December 13th, 2000, right around noon, the Texas 7 were working in the maintenance workshop and at one point, only one maintenance worker was present as the others were out to lunch.  Rivas made his move, using a a shank, and attacked the worker, wrestling him to the ground with the help of the other 6.  They bound and gagged him before doing the same to the other workers after they returned from lunch.

As they tied up each worker and threw each in a maintenance room, they stole all their belongings including cash to help fund their escape.  They dressed up in the maintenance workers uniforms and Rivas telephoned the guards, convincing them the maintenance crew was going to work on a surveillance camera at the main tower.  The next objective was to obtain weapons.  Rivas was able to walk right passed prison guards as he made his way to the tower, and they didn't look twice, completely believing he was a legitimate maintenance worker.  Rivas continued to move, looking for an opportunity to get a weapon and he saw one - there was a loaded gun was sitting on a table near a prison guard.  

Rivas took the gun and ordered the guard to open the gates.  Rivas and his crew continued to knock out, bound and gag any officer, civilian worker or inmate who posed a threat to their plan and they were able to eventually obtain a maintenance truck at gunpoint.  The escaping inmates hid within the truck as Rivas, wearing the maintenance uniform, took the wheel and drove straight out of  the prison gates.  Most of the guards were none the wiser as the Texas 7 drove away towards a nearby Wal-Mart, where a getaway vehicle was waiting for them, provided by the father of Michael Rodriguez, Raul Rodriguez. They switched into the new vehicle and took off, completing the initial phase of the escape.  They drove towards San Antonio, where they hid out for two days, before heading to Houston.  

While there was certainly meticulous planning, patience and intelligence involved in this daring escape, these men were still criminals at heart and Rivas' plan included several robberies to help fund their transition to freedom.  The smartest move would've probably been to go their separate ways after a couple days, with each man making their own decisions on how to obtain money, change their appearance, move out of the country or to a remote location, find work under a new name, and ideally restrain from criminal activity at all costs.  Instead, they stuck together and immediately turned to violent crime, robbing an AutoZone and Radio Shack, stealing money and electronics like police scanners to monitor law enforcement activity.

They ended up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as Christmas was nearing.  It was Christmas Eve when the fugitives decided to rob an Oshman's Sporting Goods store in Irving, Texas.  It was a major robbery that included bounding and gagging employees and stealing tens of thousands of dollars in guns and ammunition along with $70,000 from the safe.  This absolutely reckless move would be the biggest mistake the Texas 7 would make.  Irving Police Officer Aubrey Wright Hawkins left Christmas Eve dinner with his wife and son, responding to the emergency call.  He was almost immediately shot by Rivas and other members of the Texas 7 also fired upon the officer.  He was hit 11 times then run over as the convicts fled the scene.  Hawkins tragically passed away and the dynamics of the situation drastically changed with the loss of a Texas police officer.  The manhunt had turned personal and every law enforcement agency in the country was actively hunting the cop-killers.

A $100,000 reward was offered to any one who could provide information leading to the capture of the Texas 7.  Meanwhile, the Texas 7 moved to Colorado and several were staying at the Coachlight Motel and R.V. Park, portraying themselves as Christian Missionaries.  They played Christian Music, held Bible Studies and had every one in the area convinced they were legitimate.  Had they never murdered a police officer, their story would have never been broadcast on America's Most Wanted, but that's exactly what happened on January 20th, 2001.  A resident of the RV Park recognized the men and notified the manager, who was completely shocked.

He contacted authorities and various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and SWAT, worked together to create a perimeter and set a trap.  Two of the Texas 7 - child abuser Randy Halrpin and violent rapist Larry Harper, were in the RV as authorities surrounded them.  Harpin eventually surrendered, but then a gunshot was heard from within the RV.  Larry Harper had turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, leaving a note of apology for his family.  Meanwhile, three others - Rivas, Joseph Garcia, and Michael Rodriguez had driven to a nearby gas station.  They were followed there and arrested at gunpoint.  The men had no choice but to surrender, although they had the weaponry and motivation to fight it out, they were taken by surprise and could not access their many weapons before police were upon them.

Now, only 2 of the Texas 7 remained at large - Donald Newbury and Patrick Murphy.  A telephone call from a nearby Holiday Inn revealed that the two may have been staying there.  Police were able to surround them, but were forced to negotiate a surrender as the two men were armed with multiple weapons stolen earlier from the Sporting Goods Store.  A deal was struck allowing the two men to make a live TV appearance before surrendering.  Anchorman Eric Singer was taken to the hotel, and interviewed the two remaining fugitives.  They criticized the Texas penal system for its lack of rehabilitation services and strict sentences.  They gave up without a fight following the interviews.

All 6 of the surviving Texas 7 were charged with the murder of Officer Aubrey Wright Hawkins.  They were each given the death penalty.  On August 14th, 2008, Michael Rodriguez, the man who hired a hitman to murder his wife for insurance money, was executed by lethal injection.  His father Raul Rodriguez had also been convicted and sentenced to 15 years for conspiring to help the Texas Seven in their escape.  

The next in line to go was the ringleader, George Rivas.  His sentenced was completed on Feburary 29th, 2012, after 11 years of appeals.  He apologized to the family of the slain officer before the execution went forward.

Since then, two more of the Texas 7 were executed - Donald Newbury on February 4th, 2015 and then Joseph Garcia on December 4th, 2018.

Randy Halrpin was set to be executed in October of 2019, but was given a stay of execution due to to racially charged comments from his trial Judge, Vickers "Vick" Cunningham, who said Jews needed to be shut down because they controlled all the money.  Cunningham has used racial slurs in the past and even acknowledged that he set up a living trust that would reward his children if they marry a white person.  The unprofessionalism and racist comments from the Judge led Randy Halprin, the member of the Texas 7 who broke the bones of a baby, to get awarded a new trial in November of 2024.

George Rivas

And finally, there is Patrick Henry Murphy Jr., originally convicted of aggravated sexual assault.  He was also set to die in 2019, but a last minute stay of execution was granted on the basis that he was denied his request to have a Buddhist Priest in the execution room with him.  He filed a religious discrimination lawsuit, and will not be put to death until it is settled. 

And that is the story of the Texas 7, a story that could easily have been a Hollywood Movie, with 7 horrible criminals making a daring escape and robbing several Texas businesses before gunning down a police officer, moving to Colorado pretending to be Christian Missionaries, then getting cornered dramatically in a final showdown.

The Texas 7 made an impressive and daring escape from prison and it might have gone down i in history as one of the most successful and epic prison escapes ever had they not gotten greedy and resorted to massive robberies in which they bound and gagged innocent people, stole thousands of dollars in cash, weapons and other merchandise, and ended up murdering an innocent police officer. Now, the Texas 7 will go down across the board as a disgusting group of murderers, rapists, child abusers and thieves who couldn't even stop committing major crimes when their freedom depended on it.  

Granted, it would be difficult to get money, food and clothing starting from scratch, but many prison escapees have successfully done it and were either never caught or it took decades to find them.