writer and public speaker toby dorr shares her harrowing story: falling in love with prison inmate john maynard and helping him escape, their experience on the run and how her life has been thoroughly transformed by these events. The chase went on for 60 miles on an interstate highway. It was while John was serving his penalty at the Lansing Correctional Facility in October 2005 that he met Toby Dorr (then Toby Young), who'd recently begun a rehabilitative program that paired rescued dogs with prisoners for further adoption. Droll noted that after offering her his hand, the inmate told her that he'd like to be her next handler. . John hid in a dog carrier in Tobys van, and she drove them away without being searched, only to be apprehended nearly two weeks later. The two soon formed a connection, as she felt like he was concerned about her. Following their escape, both Dorr and Manard attempted to disguise themselves and looked different when they were arrested. The whole time I was driving between gate two and gate one, [I was thinking] that the sirens were gonna go off, and they were gonna come running, and I was trying to think of what I was gonna say, and they opened gate one, and I drove out, Dorr said. My kids were grown, beyond any need for me. Offers may be subject to change without notice. But what happened to Manard since his notorious 2006 prison escape? Id like to be your next handler. I squinted one eye and shaded my other with my left hand. Manard told the outlet that he made a mistake when he was still a child and he wasnt the one who pulled the trigger. In October 2005, though, after a prisoner threatened Toby, her contact in the wardens officer reportedly assigned John Manard, one of the dog trainers in her program, to be her escort for a while. Had I the courage and awareness to confront my weaknesses decades before, I never would have fallen for John Manard. And was John Manard ever caught? Claiming that the incident changed her life, Toby said. ' Dorr told KMBC. Facebook/Kansas Department of Corrections, Social Media Influencer Set on Fire & Killed by Ex-Husband, Family Says. He was smart," Young told the outlet. On Feb. 1, 2006, Kansas prisoner John Maynard escaped from Lansing Correctional Facility in a van driven by 48-year-old prison volunteer Toby Dorr. What do you want to do? Dorr is working on a memoir about her experience. Then, one day that winter, Maynard asked Dorr if she would be with him if he werent in prison, and she replied that she might. Heck, I was even born and raised in the geographic center of the country, in a city not so big and not so small: Kansas City. In a sense, it was an escape for her, too, from an unhappy marriage. She was released from prison in 2008, KMBC reported. Hanging back from the initial throng, the lanky redhead occupied his own space. Manard was serving a life. She said that she jumped at the chance when the prison suggested that she lead the dog rehab program. In a letter written by him to The Kansas City Star years later, he called himself a 17-year-old child at that time, who made a mistake that led to his life sentence. And that was the last time I saw him., Dorrs husband divorced her and she spent 27 months in prison, serving concurrent federal and state sentences. Convicted felon John Manard was serving time for a 1996 murder when he met Toby Dorr Fmr. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The episode is set to air on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 9 pm ET. She further said: In another interview with Insider, Toby Dorr claimed that when she first encountered John Manard, her feelings of insignificance, loneliness, and uncertainty were at their peak. The two then got in the pick-up truck and drove away. In a letter Maynard wrote the newspaper in response to an inquiry for its article, he said he was a 17-year-old child at the time of the murder, and called it a huge mistake.. published on Friday by the Kansas City Star. It fills your whole head with the smell.. He said, If I wasnt in here, would you be with me? Where is he today? Toby Dorr (who was Toby Young when she met John Manard) was the reason that John Manard was able to escape. Dorr had been. Murdaugh Prosecution: Why Would an Innocent Man Lie? Part of Dorrs job involved taking dogs out of the prison once they had been re-trained and adopted. Not until I experienced the harder side of prison bars did I realize that Id been in prison for a lifetime. With all that said, though, Toby has since worked on herself, moved into a positive direction, gotten married again (to Chris Dorr), and began another venture, where she helps other women escape their emotional traumas through a series of personal growth programs. John Diamond, 48, britsk novin. Dorr has since opened up about her story and provided more details about how she came to meet Manard and fall for the inmate she eventually helped escape. Manard pampered her and they even went on outings together after the escape. Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Manard was serving a life sentence for a 1996 murder at the Lansing Correctional Facility when he met Dorr, who was leading a volunteer rehabilitative dog program. In a personal essay for TODAY, she shares more about her own journey to freedom. On February 24, they were in Chattanooga to go to the IMAX theater and were spotted in the street by two U.S. marshals, the Atlantic reported. The convicted murderer added, Why did I stay with her once I was out if I was just manipulating? Dorr is also starting to speak publicly about her experience. The state of Kansas has announced in recent years that they would be moving many male prisoners out of state due to overcrowding in Kansas facilities. Kansas Department of Corrections, , then Toby Young, was in her late 40s when she fell for John Manard, then 28. Manard was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder for his role in a fatal 1996 carjacking when he was 17, according to the, In February of 2006, she smuggled Manard out of the maximum-security prison in a dog crate in the back of the dog program van, the. He was an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Leavenworth Kansas, where Dorr administered a volunteer rehabilitative dog program for. Following a 60-mile speed chase down a nearby interstate, John Manard, who was driving, lost control and crashed their vehicle into a tree, leading to the local cops and the Federal Fugitive Task Force officers seizing them for good. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! However, in 2004, following a brief encounter with thyroid cancer, Toby realized that her marriage and personal life were crumbling apart and decided to establish Safe Harbor Prison Dog a rehabilitative program that paired rescued canines with inmates for further adoption. Toby Dorr had been working inside a Kansas prison for just over a year when a slender inmate with close-cropped red hair started paying special attention to her. His voice soothed me. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Dorr and John Michael Manard, who was at Lansing Correctional Facility serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, went on the run on February 12, 2006, living out of a cabin in rural. I'm not the same person. Her contact in the wardens office assigned Maynard to be her escort, she told the Star, accompanying her around the facility as her personal, 6-foot, 2-inch-tall red-haired bodyguard. So now, if youre curious about where she is today, weve got you covered. car chase clip. Although she was married at the time, the marriage was broken, Dorr said. She had supportive parents, married her high school sweetheart, was dedicated to her work at Sprint a telecom firm and raised two children while earning a degree. In 2005, I couldnt have been more average, the center of demographic medians in the United States. Toby Dorr was a 48-year-old, volunteering at a Kansas prison when she met and got romantically involved with an inmate named John Manard and helped him escape. Manard told the Star that he was in love with Dorr and he hadnt manipulated her: I loved Toby and was 100 percent committed to her, he wrote in a letter to the outlet. Be the first one to comment on this story. "I like the person I am today, and I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't gone through all that." Toby Dorr fell in love with John Manard, an inmate at a prison in which she was volunteering with a dog program. She lived by all accounts a regular life, had always followed the rules and was married with two kids. The episode, titled Breakout, airs on October 1, 2022, at 9 pm ET. Authorities, with little elaboration, said she helped John M.. Over the following 18 months, she helped over 1,000 dogs get adopted through the program. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Copyright 2023 Distractify. As per her Facebook, Toby completed the manuscript for this tale of escape and redemption in June 2019. I do think that John Manard loved me to the best of his ability to love anybody at that time.. In 2004, Dorr, a married mother of two and cancer survivor, started the Safe Harbor Prison Dog Program at the Lansing Correctional Facility, a program with the goal of allowing certain inmates to house dogs in their cells in preparation for the dogs adoption, the Atlantic reported. Toby Dorr, then Toby Young, was in her late 40s when she fell for John Manard, then 28. When the time had come to choose a dog, Manard inspected each one, thoughtfully analyzing his choices. The moment they were handcuffed was the very last time the pair were together as a couple. Manard is still behind bars, reportedly in a New Hampshire facility, and likely will be for life. He continued: Ive always been given the role of the master manipulating, scumbag criminal with no morals and Toby the, poor manipulated, naive, gullible, depressed, desperate, good girl, that I took advantage of. All Rights Reserved. The dog trainer was Manard's accomplice and lover. I chose life. She spoke to Showbiz Cheat Sheet about the upcoming movie, her just-released memoir, and what she hopes people take away from her story. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Maynard's serving a life sentence. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. I loved Toby with all that I was.. I NEVER manipulated her in the least! In 2007, Manard was sentenced in Leavenworth County District Court to 130 months in prison for the jailbreak and a few years later, he received 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm unlawfully during that time. John Maynard was someone who paid . The two were on the run for 12 days, living in northern Tennessee in a small village until they were eventually caught leaving a bookstore, KMBC reported. A spotlight from a helicopter shined and backlit Maynard, outlining his tall figure in the night. Our market was families across the country who clamored for Safe Harbor Prison dogs. In Lifetimes Jailbreak Lovers, a woman finds a sense of escape from a lonely marriage with an inmate at the correctional facility where she brings dogs to be rehabilitated. Everything about him, a testament to his character, unlike any other convicted killer Id met while volunteering at the prison. While in prison, a romance blossomed between Manard and Toby Dorr, who at that time was the head of the prisons dog training program. The couple then drove straight to a storage unit, where they got into a pre-placed truck and made their way to Tennessee. She served 27 months in prison for her role in the escape, and Manard remains in prison. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Toby Dorr, formerly Young, seemed to have a picture-perfect life. And was John Manard ever caught? I dont recommend my path, but I firmly believe that we command our own destinies. 'Dateline' Is Covering the Story. Toby Dorr claimed that her life was somewhat typical in 2005 before she met convicted criminal John Manard in prison. What began as fun and games under the nose of authority turned criminal when I smuggled him out of Lansing Prison in a dog crate. According to NBC News, after the sentencing, her attorney said, As for remorse, I know for a fact shes very sorry for what she did. Once in the state, they stayed in a remote cabin for 12 days before driving to Chattanooga so that John could do some exploring. I never anticipated thats what he was talking about at the time. She said Manard planned the escape through a dog crate he lost weight to fit in. Dorr said Manard's listened to her when no one else would, so she fell in love with him. Kelly Siegler Meets with Brenda Lamberts Siblings, police noticed that thats the vehicle that actually they were going to be attempting to find.. Young was sentenced to 21 months of prison for aiding and abetting aggravated escape and introducing contraband into the prison because, as the movie also depicts, she had smuggled her lover a cell phone. According to the Kansas Department of Corrections public records, Manard, 42, was moved out of state on December 18, 2017, for housing. I do think that John Maynard loved me to the best of his ability to love anybody at that time. Please logout and login again. Read more in our, In this 2018 photo, Toby Dorr, formerly Toby Young, poses for a photo in Kansas City, Mo. 'Dateline' Gets to the Bottom of Annie Kasprzak's Confusing Murder, It's Been One Year Since Vanessa Guillen's Body Was Found Her Fianc Is Still Mourning Her Loss, Was Tom Kolman Fatally Poisoned By His Friend? Manard wrote, I loved Toby and was 100 percent committed to her Why did I stay with her once I was out if I was just manipulating? Dorr drove Manard off the prison property without a problem, and the couple escaped to a Tennessee cabin in the woods in which authorities later found, Books, sex toys, a blue parakeet, a guitar, and sheet music to the jailbreak film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Marshals forced us from the highway in Tennessee. Louis Faurer, 84, americk poulin fotograf. She means more to me than my own life, LJ World wrote. He executed his plan two days before Valentine's Day in 2006. Maybe John was wearing his inmate hat and he was perceptive enough to notice a need in me and capitalized on it. However, she claimed that her husband barely cared about her or her existence and made her feel insignificant. Fmr. A dog licked his face. And John Manards prison escape checked all the boxes. She was a 48-year-old married mother-of-two who worked as a dog trainer and volunteered at the correctional center Manard was assigned to. He was an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility in Leavenworth Kansas, where Dorr administered a volunteer rehabilitative dog program for the Safe Harbor Prison Dog Program. prison worker explains why she helped a killer escape. . Nearly a week later, John and his friends were apprehended, and he was charged, arrested, tried, and convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated robbery. I learned that freedom is a state of mind, not a circumstance. Following their arrest, the convicted murderer, Manard was sent back to prison with ten years added to his life sentence. However, they followed through on the latter after their escape. I NEVER manipulated her in the least! Toby Dorr infamously helped John Manard break out of a Kansas prison in 2006. Watch on. It was while John was serving his penalty at the Lansing Correctional Facility in October 2005 that he met Toby Dorr (then Toby Young), whod recently begun a rehabilitative program that paired rescued dogs with prisoners for further adoption. He and Dorr had struck up a close relationship on her visits to the prison, and they cooked up the escape plan over time. It went off without a hitch, writes Michael Mooney in the Atlantic. Maynard lost 25 pounds, and on February 12, 2006 hid in a dog carrier as Dorr drove her van through the prison gates to freedom. According to LJ World, Manards attorney explained, What he meant by that was that it was worth it to him to serve an additional 130 months in prison for the brief period of time that he got to spend with Toby Young in his value system. Marshals spotted Manard and Dorr while they were out in the Chattanooga area, the couple lost control of the situation. Toby Young and John Manard. officers soon acquired the address for the remote cabin the couple was using as their hideout. Toby Dorr and John Manard were caught in Tennessee following a chance encounter with deputies that lead to a high-speed chase and their vehicle crashing into a tree. She helped pair rescued canines with inmates and took a liking to Maynard. A couple of months later, John asked his girlfriend if she would be with him if he wasnt incarcerated, to which she replied that she might. The chase ended after Dorr's truck crashed. "She's given just a handful of speeches, but each time she's been met with a line of women coming up to her afterward, confessing their own secret desire to escape," writes Mooney. NBCs Dateline: Breakout profiles the tale of John Manard, a Kansas life-term prisoner, who managed to escape his incarceration in February 2006 with the help of his then-lover, 48-year-old Toby Dorr, a jail volunteer and married mother of two. Manard and Dorr hopped in a car and fled the authorities in what would become one of the most notorious high-speed car chases of all time. On their way back to their cabin, the couple was arrested on Interstate 75, around 60 miles from where theyd been staying in rural Tennessee, NBC News wrote. John Michael Manard was serving a life sentence for murder when he fell in love with prison worker Toby Young, who helped him escape. Dorr rose to fame when she freed an inmate named John Maynard from prison in a dog crate in 2006. And then he was gone. Maybe John was wearing his inmate hat and he was perceptive enough to notice a need in me and capitalized on it. On February 12, 2006, Dorr and Manard broke out after the former used dog crates to smuggle him out. The result of her escape experiment, as described by the coroner, was a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. I white-knuckled my life until desperation coerced a change. Toby Dorr, formerly Toby Young, infamously helped John Manard break out of a Kansas prison in 2006. Welcome back for the exciting conclusion of Toby's story about helping John Maynard escape from Lansing prison! Its instant success meant that Toby soon became a regular at all areas of Lansing prison. John folded himself into a cardboard box within a dog crate; I watched as other inmates hefted it into my van. She was Toby Young then, 48 years old, and in February 2006 she did the unthinkable. Please logout and login again. Ive always been given the role of the master manipulating, scumbag criminal with no morals and Toby the, poor manipulated, naive, gullible, depressed, desperate, good girl, that I took advantage of. My 28-year marriage yawned; I felt like my husband hardly knew I existed. 2 Familiar Faces Were on Turbulent Lufthansa Flight, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Gets 'Simply Appalling' Sentence, Person Used Tap Water as Sinus Rinse, Probably Fatally, House Ethics Committee Is Investigating AOC. The moment they were handcuffed was the very last time the pair were together as a couple. Up until that moment, Dorr and Manard were only emotionally involved, not s*xually. Chris is a good man.. The little girl in me knew to stay quiet, but her smile remained. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Although Dorr served 27 months in prison for her role in the escape, she claimed in an interview with TODAY that she "yearned for more" before the breakout. At the age of 48, she could have never imagined that love would change her world, but it did. Dorr was charged with aiding and abetting an aggravated escape, taking contraband into the prison, and providing firearms to a felon, the Atlantic wrote. With such a truly extraordinary and fulfilling purpose, I could not have been more oblivious to the insatiable gravity within me when John appeared from across the prison yard. He took this to mean yes and started designing his breakout and future life with Toby.