According to different versions obtained, both inmates where held in an isolation cell due to problems with other inmates to avoid any incidents. There was also a third person in the same cell with them.

The inmates dug the tunnel during the two months they where held in the isolation cell. They stored all the mud in big bags that they supposedly bought from an inmate that is in charge of the prison kitchen, since the same bags are used to package the rice for the consumption of the inmates.

The job of digging the tunnel that would lead them to freedom was done in a way that nobody noticed such activity. “They where always by their cell door and completely clean, we only noticed the curtain behind them” indicated an inmate.

“Everything looked fine and they where always present at every check tour, the curtain looked clean and they where always clean, they never looked suspicious to anyone” said another inmate.

But it didn’t occur anyone to check behind the curtain where dozens of bags full of mud where stacked one on top of the other.

The escape of both inmates was noticed early Monday morning. The third inmate held in the same cell did not escape but also didn’t want to cooperate when the penitentiary authorities asked for information.

Naptaly Argueta Chavez is (35), was convicted of murder, evasion and attempted robbery. He was serving a sentence of 30 years.

Carlos Ramiro Velásquez Martínez (29) is from San Esteban Olancho. He was serving a sentence of five years for the crimes of evasion and aggravated robbery. In 2004 he escaped from the Trujillo Penitentiary, but was captured the same day. He was six months from completing his sentence.