Inmate John Manard, notorious for prison escape in dog crate, dies in Arizona prison

John Manard, 45, an inmate notorious for escaping a Kansas prison hidden in a dog crate, has died at the La Palma Correctional Facility in Eloy, Arizona, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. His cause of death is pending an autopsy.

Romantic Dream Turned Nightmare

Manard was serving a life sentence for a suburban Kansas City killing when he met Toby Young, a married mother of two working to help prisoners train animals for adoption. They fell in love, and on February 12, 2006, Young hid Manard in a crate and helped him escape. Young took advantage of the trust she gained from running the program to drive Manard out. However, they were captured 12 days later in east Tennessee after a failed escape attempt.

Their escape story caught nationwide attention, leading to book and TV adaptations. Young, who pleaded guilty in court, wrote about the events in "Living With Conviction." Following Manard's death, she expressed her condolences on Facebook, stating, "I pray you have at last found the peace you were searching for, John."

Despite the disturbing nature of the events, the tale of their escape and subsequent capture captivated many, spawning various forms of media and public intrigue.