By this point, Coy was in a frenzy to locate key #107. He probably realized that his time was running out and that someone would soon notice that the guards were missing from their post assignments. Once the island’s siren was activated, it would be all over. The prison would go into lock-down mode and every guard, including all of the reserves, would be issued firearms and stationed at all points on the island. Coy started to verbally trace the chain of custody of Key #107. The guards being held captive could hear Coy’s desperation as he struggled to locate the key. Then Lageson and Bristow asked Cretzer if they could untie Miller, who was still bound to the bunk, and surprisingly Cretzer agreed. While Lageson and Bristow were untying him, Miller covertly passed the key to Burdette, who stealthily slid to the back of the cell. As the other guards stood at the front of the cell, blocking the view and distracting everyone’s attention by asking questions, it is alleged by some historians that Burdette quietly dropped the key into the toilet bowl, and then submerging his hand, pushed it back until it was out of view (It should be noted that in at least one of the official FBI statements derived from interviews with the hostages, it was indicated that the key was simply hid behind the toilet and not submerged. The above is simply the most common written theory, and it is likely inaccurate).

A few minutes later Coy returned to the cell front and demanded that Miller tell him where he had put the key. Quite heroically, Miller maintained that the key must still be in the gallery, since he remembered passing it to Burch. But Bernie Coy was furious, and opened the cell demanding that Miller’s person and every inch of the cell be thoroughly searched. Miller was forcefully removed from the cell, and was searched in an aggressive manner by Cretzer while standing in the aisle of Seedy Street. Still in acute pain from the attack, Miller held his ground, telling Coy that he would have to go back into the gun gallery if he wanted to find the key. Coy was incensed.

The conspirators then transferred the officers from cell #404 into cell #403. The two inmate hostages, Egan and Moyle, begged Cretzer to let them go, pleading that they didn’t deserve to be locked up with the guards. In what may have been his only act of kindness, Cretzer nodded and told them to go back to their cells. Both scurried out, looking for any open cell in which to take cover. Hubbard and Cretzer thoroughly searched the other officers, sometimes jabbing them with the barrel of the pistol. Thompson and Coy took a box of keys from the cellhouse officer’s desk, and tried every key in hope of finding a duplicate disguised with a dummy number. Both inmates went key-by-key, forcefully inserting them into the yard door lock tumbler, hoping to find a match.

Correctional Officers Ed Stucker and Emil Rychner.

Joe Fisher

Officer Ed Stucker was assigned to the cellhouse basement, to supervise inmate barbers Joe Fisherand William Bartlett, as well as the activities in the clothing room and the shower area. Stucker carried the reputation of a by-the-book guard who generally engaged in very little small talk with the inmates. There were eighteen other inmates under his supervision and some of them were getting haircuts, while others were on work detail sorting clothing. Two inmates asked if they could be released back to the main floor after getting their haircuts, as they had been promised time in the recreation yard if they finished early. Stucker agreed, and the two ascended the stairs that led up to the base of the West End Gun Gallery, at the juncture of Times Squareand Michigan Avenue. When the inmates reached the top of the stairs, they looked around through the large-link steel caging that enclosed the stairwell, but couldn’t locate Miller or any other officer. After calling out and brashly tapping the steel mesh access door, the two inmates descended and asked Stucker if he could get someone to come and let them out, as no one had responded to their calls.

Stucker was puzzled that the inmates couldn’t get the attention of any officer. If Miller was busy, then Burch would usually hear the tapping from the gallery and summon an officer. Stucker instructed the inmates to remain in the basement, and went up to see if he could catch Miller’s attention. Once he reached the top, he looked through the steel grating and was shocked to see a few inmates standing around unsupervised. Stucker swiftly secured the padlock, which was generally used as an added security measure, and headed back downstairs. At the bottom of the stairwell he pulled the receiver from the only phone that he could access in the basement, and dialed the Armory ( Note: Stucker in an FBI interview, indicated that he had seen Cretzer with a pistol and reported this information to the Armory. Although not verifiable, for the sake of accuracy, his testimony should be considered as an equal account). As soon as Fish picked up, Stucker explained that he thought there was something seriously wrong in the cellhouse. Fish immediately hung up and started ringing the West Gallery and dining area. After dialing several phones in the west cellhouse with no response, Fish immediately contacted Lieutenant of the Watch Joseph Simpson, who was in the Administration Office doing paperwork. Fish explained that there seemed to be a problem in the cellhouse, and that he could not reach any of the officers at their posts.

Simpson quickly summoned Records Officer Carl W. Sundstrom and Bob Baker, the mail officer who spent most of his time reading and censoring inmate mail. The three men quickly entered the Armory and inquired whether Fish had received any updates from the floor or gallery officers, but still no one had picked up the cellhouse phones. Fish now suspected the worst and started communicating to the others that he felt it was not safe to enter the cellhouse. All three officers ignored his advice and prepared to make entry. Simpson and the three others navigated their way through the sallyport gates and carrying only wooden billy clubs, entered the cellhouse heading straight down Broadway toward the Dining Hall.

Officer Bob Baker

Unfortunately, they would meet the same fate as the other officers. The armed inmates all stood waiting at the west end of the cellblock, and they ambushed the three officers. The captive guards had been moved out of #404 and into #403 to allow for the cell search, and Bristow and Simpson were led to cell #402.

Back at the Armory, Officer Fish had finally been able to get through to the hospital, where the staff members on duty were going about their business, unaware of the events that were transpiring just downstairs. Fish instructed them to secure themselves, because something was happening on the cellhouse floor. Fish then called back to Stucker, explaining that no one was answering the phones, not even Officer Burch. It was becoming evident that something serious was afoot. The two officials quickly got off the phone, and Stucker explained to the twenty inmates that there was a “problem” in the cellhouse. He said that they would need to remain in the basement for a little longer than usual today, since he didn’t want any of them to get involved. He tried to downplay the prospect of any serious trouble, realizing that if the inmates caught on to what was happening in the cellhouse, his life could potentially be placed in jeopardy. Stucker quickly and calmly moved the inmates into the band practice area, explaining that they would be allowed to head back upstairs shortly. He walked to the base of the stairs, looked up, and noticed someone attempting to pry open the basement door. Not wanting to tip anyone off, he casually walked back into the band practice room and secured the door.