Randy Explains The Letter He Left Behind During The Escape
Written by Randy Halprin
“You haven’t heard the last of us…”
A lot has been made of those seemingly threatening words. After the escape the authorities and media used these words to scare the general public and to prove that we were dangerous. Even in my trial, the prosecutors tried to use these words against me, as if I had made some evil prophetic statement about our desire and intentions for escaping.
The simple truth is that it was one line taken WAY out of context from the rest of the letter I had left behind in my locker the day we escaped. I can’t remember exactly what I had written, but I remember talking about how the prison system needed to change; that it was corrupt and that seven guys who were of different ethnicities and religions had proven that if prisoners stood together, things could be accomplished. It was a statement against racism and gangs that tend to divide prisoners and give TDCJ the upper hand. It was a foolish and naive thing to write from an immature 23-year-old. I felt it was us against the system.
The line, “Believe me, you haven’t heard the last of us,” was in reference to a plan that Larry Harper (one of the escapees who killed himself) and I had to write a manifesto—post escape—that explored various degrees of corruption within the prison system. It was intended to be vague, but by no means a threat of things to come. That single line has haunted me to even this very day.
The letter was in no means a threat in words or tone. I hope this clears things up for people who didn’t know and had questions.
Peace,