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Santini "Death Row" cell escape with LOTS of cuffs

51 visible archived posts · 51 preserved total · topic ID 3152

Steve Santini 26 Jul 2009

Hi all,

Just got back from Quebec. I beat the death row cell in 8 minutes and 30 seconds. I have attatched pics of some of the media coverage the next day and a link to a You Tube video about the escape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Vm_tObrqg

This escape was very interesting because after I had been searched and the cell had been searched and I was fully manacled, the media, and there were at least 5 T.V. networks, 3 radio stations, and 4 newspapers there, asked if I would attempt the escape in full view.

They basically said that they had seen enough fake escapes on T.V. and wanted to be sure I could do it for real and in full view or they would not stay to cover it.

So... for the first time ever in the world an escape artist, me, agreed to try a prison cell escape in full view.

This created a sensation and I explained how I did it step by step with no tools, picks, keys, or gimmicked gear and only using contortion, pain control, and the restraints themselves as tools to open other locks and restraints!

I freed both myself and the Mayor of Trois Rivieres from his cell in a total of 8 minutes and 30 seconds. All this from a prison that has never lost a prisoner in over 150 years!

Enjoy.

Cheers, Steve P.S. The story went national coast to coast in Canada and I have added some links to other media gropus which covered it.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/audio-video/ ... ee%3Dcourt

http://matin.branchez-vous.com/nouvelle ... la_pr.html

http://www.lhebdojournal.com/article-36 ... rison.html

http://lcn.canoe.ca/lcn/artsetspectacle ... 35317.html

Cindi 26 Jul 2009

Way to Go Steve! Coverage in French too.....

Wooo Woooo
Cindini

William 26 Jul 2009

Well, it looked good on camera, but I wonder why the main locking bolt was not thrown into the locked position. Why was a flimsy chain and cheap padlock used to lock a formidable looking door in lieu of the boltwork that was mounted on the door?
I wonder if the door was properly locked, if you could have gotten out.
It looked like the Mayor's cell did not have the main bolt, but the one you were in did.

Steve Santini 26 Jul 2009

Comment from the peanut gallery.

I would expect no less from haters whose only talent is to sit behind computer screens and get ticked off at something they themselves could never dream of pulling off.

Keep on hating. It only makes you look small.

Willian 26 Jul 2009

I would expect no less from haters whose only talent is to sit behind computer screens and get ticked off at something they themselves could never dream of pulling off.

Keep on hating. It only makes you look small.

Well, I guess you could take that approach. I personally thought mine was a valid question. The press was there and you had the Mayor locked up. This could and should have been a great escape, but this awesome looking door should have been locked in the same fashion as it did 150 years ago.
You boast that no one has escaped since the jail was built and pat yourself on the back for getting out, but the door was not really locked they way it was intended. If it had, you would have earned my respect. Your cutting remarks to my legitimate question is an indication that your ego probably would not even fit in that crampt little cell.
I didn't "hate" you. I was a fan. With replys like this, I might consider it though. I was hoping that you escaped from an ominous situation but I was let down by your escaping from a 150 year old jail cell locked with a Master (or whatever...maybe even gaffed) padlock that you got for 10 bucks at the local hardware store.
Big DEAL! A strait jacket escape from a crane 10 stories up is something that I would never attempt, but an old jail door locked with a Master padlock does not exactly make me shiver in my boots!

Anon456 26 Jul 2009

I agree with you William, why not lock it the way it was intended and even with the padlock that I saw hanging there would have been sufficient for the door. I know of an old jail in Chambersburg, PA that if locked with a simple padlock that one is not getting out due to the design and like that one, near impossible to get to the padlock. And don't think others haven't noticed the little tricks you employed in unlocking the cuffs and padlocks.

Steve Santini 26 Jul 2009

About what either of you claim to have "noticed".

If you are so damn smart, stop hiding behind fake and "annon" names, crawl out from behind a computer screen, and get out there and do at least this or even better.

Show me your national media coverage.

Better yet, show me you even have the balls to do a full view prison escape with the media parked right in front of you.

So far, I am the only one to have done so.

Come to think of it, if you do, which you won't, then all you will be doing is swimming in my wake (as usual).

Steve Santini

Patches 26 Jul 2009

Well said Steve!
Mega Applause from this side. In fact I appreciated the fact that the ACTUAL method of releasing the chain from the Door was NOT shown that I could see. I appreciated that much more than Criss Angel's exposure with the folding tire Iron type tool in his televised exposure of a Jail break. How lame was that!

You just keep showin' 'em!

William 27 Jul 2009

You might be right about one thing: The hardest part of your escape was to attract media attention. The lousy excuse of a locking sytem you used could be accomplished by anyone with a lock picking or escape artist background.
My entire point was that there is a locking bolt on the door that some iron worker installed a hundred and fifty years ago and you pretended that it did not exist. You did not need to behind the door. You could have taken off the cuffs and picked the lock at a work table and it would have been just as difficult!
Yes, the press loves jail escapes and you got good coverage, but the degree of difficulty or danger is meek to say the least.
YOU could have done better!

Anonymous 27 Jul 2009

#10

I didn't catch it the first time around.
It is a DEATH ROW cell. That is what made it so attractive and helped secure the media coverage.
If only the inmate that lived in that cell to his last day could have had his door locked with a Master Padlock. I bet he would have appreciated that! The guy he murdered of course, wouldn't

Uncle Stripe 27 Jul 2009

#11

Hey, Stop messing with Steve so much. you hear ....

He's Cool and you should just stop figuring out how he does his escapes.

Now just all of you mellow out and we get along better, ok?

Thank you.

Unresolved image reference ↗

Patches 27 Jul 2009

#12

Here's what everyone missed....
1) Learning Locking mechanisms
2) Working locking mechanisms
3) Writing and sending Press Releases
4) Obtaining the Prison Facilities permission
5) Traveling to the facility
6) Gathering assitance when needed. Apply restraints etc.
7) Risking sabotage in the process.
8) Obtaining success!
9) Entertaining audiences during the process, present and televised.
10) Winning the Press.

A lot of work here people! Put up or shut up

Thank you

Anon456 27 Jul 2009

#13

@uncle stripe, we are not trying to figure out how he did it, we already know how he did it as I used to do escape magic before Steve was born or was in diapers. And don't think I noticed the metal detect wasn't used on his head or his mouth inspected, his assistant applied the restraints a certain way just to mention a few things.

@William, he could have done it in plain site but it would have been easier to do the padlocks using the grate of the cell door for leverage and undoing the chain. Also the grate of the door concealed alot of what he was doing but it is still detectable to some degree.

What you all think a lot of us missed is the fact is if Steve was locked in the cell as it was designed using the original padlock would have made it very difficult if not impossible. Now if had the key to the padlock, then it is possible as it is very difficult to use picks in that configuration. Also the sleigh of hand pretending to use the tip of the bow of the handcuff when you actually had a key or like to open the lock. And the fact you used handcuffs to secure the chain on your cell which is lower security than the padlocks.

On the other hand, your showmanship wasn't too bad...

William 27 Jul 2009

#14

I agree that the showmanship made the event fun.
What I do not find any fun in, how I was attacked when I asked a valid question.
I support the craft of escape artisty and like to see it elevated to a level that magicians look up to instaed of the gutter level that they view it as.
I was excited to see all the press that this escape warranted and when I looked at the video, I could see in plain sight a locking boly that was left unlocked or otherwise ignored.
I was hoping that this was going to be spectacular and would show any uppity magicians that our community really had something to boast about. I say I used to be a fan of Santini but his talk about swimming in his wake and how he knows how great he is, diminished my appreciation of him.
Like I said before, his ego is so big, that I don't know how he fit in that cell.
Santini, I have a challenge for you; Try to escape from your sense of importance and the bonds that have you locked upon your pedistal!
I guess you consider yourself a self made man.....and you are enamored with your creator!

Anonymousini 27 Jul 2009

#15

I found the video and this entire thread very boring. I would rather see a discussion of a rare handcuff.

William 27 Jul 2009

#16

Like the kind of cuff that would be used at a Canadian Jail 150 years ago?

MICHAEL LEE 27 Jul 2009

#17

The Door had a Sliding bolt... It was NOT USED !

The Sliding Bolt had a Lock which was NOT USED !

Who's chain was it ? Who's Locks were those ? Who's handCuffs were those ?

If your answere is Santeeni ...Than you win the 6 pack ! .

Not such an amazing Event -

a 'Real World " Cell break challenge involved Real world officials (Police) locking you into Real world restraints NOT the performers assistant locking him into his own props. !

This is yet again another example of what Not to do ! as there was simply to many questions left unanswered by the Public..

If you all want to read about a Real World Challenge read Norman Bigelows Book on Challenges where I Defeated the darkone. Mano a Mano !

Steve Baker was witness to the event , Bigelow was part of it., J. fox, D. Gunnarson was aware of it , Ian MCcoll saw it ........Need i go on.

Comming up this yr. @ Cannons Convention will be another Event of Note by 2 of the "Greats' in our Field that may be one for the ages in the World of Escape & Will be of Interese to many a Challenge between the Amazing Norman Bigelow & Mr.Escape Steve Baker...If it take's place it very well could be one for the History books.

MICHAEL LEE
Worlds Foremost Challenge Escape Artist

Anonymous 28 Jul 2009

#18

Michael Lee, who provided the Adlake padlock that was on the jail door for your cell escape? Or do modern railroad locks come standard on jail doors where you were at? Don't try to con a group of tricksters, we know all the tricks in the book. You are a sad little man.

Anonymous 28 Jul 2009

#19

I think it important to allow cooler heads to prevail here and

to recognize that handcuffs.Org does offer a wonderful service by allowing many
to promote there events & to Do solid research on the subject of restraint collecting ........

It is certinally not my intention to rehash what is History....Anyone in the Escape game will soon
recognize that what we want the pubic to percive is certinaly not the whole picture as many of the 'making of" reality Tv shows will atest to .

In the end the goal of achieving any kind of success as performers as well as in the positive perception that we try to hopefuly
create for the public, is something that I believe can only add to all of our Success .....Such as those that can be seen during the WEAR events.

Good luck to All,
May you Always escape.

ML

MICHAEL LEE 28 Jul 2009

#20

I will let my last post stand.

Forgot to sign in (funny)

MICHAEL LEE

Anonymous 28 Jul 2009

#21

Yeah, and also theres my tax money at work...paying the mayor to be there, what a joke.

Ian McColl 28 Jul 2009

#22

Hi Micheal Lee, I have never seen Bigelow's book and don't know why you have chosen to use my name is backing up your claims. Leave me out of it.

Good work on the escape Santini.

Ian

lauher 28 Jul 2009

#23

Steve

Great job. You did all the things you were supposed to do. You entertained, you received media attention, you created a little controversy, and . . . you got out.

Way to go.

Joe

Steve Santini 28 Jul 2009

#24

Cindi, Patches, Ian McColl, and Joseph Lauher.

Steve Santini

Mr. G. 28 Jul 2009

#25

Congrats, Steve! Well done!

Mr. T 28 Jul 2009

#26

Contrats Steve on a job NOT well done!

Mr. E 29 Jul 2009

#27

Great job Steve, but in the future you shouln't post this stuff here. This forum is full of fake wannabe escape guys, haters, and just plain and simple idiots. You do what you do to entertain the general public and paying customers not to entertain other ea wannabes. Good luck in the future, although I don't think that you need luck with all the skill you possess.

Mr. S 29 Jul 2009

#28

It's also not an escape artist forum. Its a handcuff forum.

Scamtini 29 Jul 2009

#29

Here's more coverage of my career.

http://www.stevescamtini.i8.com/

Enjoy!

Uncle Stripe 29 Jul 2009

#30

Hey steve, What brand of handcuffs and leg irons did you use in the death chamber escape?

I am a little bit concerned why you shave off the mohawk.

Steve I need your help. do you think maybe that you can speak to the webmaster about why my

linked images don't come up sometimes. I would really appreciate it and probably after everybody

see's how cool my hawk look they will all email you to beg and plead with you to

grow the mohawk back..

Now on for crucial and critical information from Steve.

What EA attempt will you do next Steve?

?? escape while chained to under a fast moving train?

?? escape from being shackled to the space shuttle?

Continiue to be cool Steve.

This is one thing I can state for fact... Nobody falls asleep reading Steve Santini posts on HC.org

Best handcuffs regards from Uncle Stripe.

Uncle Stripe 29 Jul 2009

#31

Hey Steve, I really didn't want to bring this up now but I noticed that you didn't thank me for my kind words in the post above. That's ok tho.

Steve, Do you think that maybe you could like get Joe L. in a real good mood

and maybe convince him to upgrade the site so the regular posters can have really cool avatars

like the forums in the Pron sites?

Be cool Steve and keep postin.

Best from Uncle Stripe..

Anon a Moose 29 Jul 2009

#32

How much does it take to have this Thread Escape Us?! Plzzzzzzzzz

weaseldandaw 29 Jul 2009

#33

You have my congratulations Steve.

A Great Escape!!!

Anything that promotes the escape artist & escapology is good in my books & doing it in full view is even better.

This IS a handcuff forum, but as this escape included handcuffs I feel it is welcome. Thanks for sharing it Steve.

Dan

Neil 29 Jul 2009

#34

I am so sick of this!
It was a mediocre escape and he could have made it really great. The Prison was cool looking and should have been an awesome escape. Not impressed with the chain idea.
I too thought the bolt should have been used.

Seeing eye 30 Jul 2009

#35

7 television networks covering the event and 5 newspapers and 8 radio stations and national coverage is the WRONG way to do an escape?

And all of them walking away impressed at the end of the day?

Wow.

If this is the case, we can't wait to hear about the RIGHT way to perform a successful escape. LOL.

Perhaps some of the esteemed critics on this forum can show us all how they have accomplished the very same event the very same way and with the very same end result.

Nope, I thought not.

Sounds like sour grapes and the usual jealousy to me.

The Grand Inquisitor 30 Jul 2009

#36

Oh look!

Michael Lee escaped from a jail fastened with a chain and a padlock...

http://www.amityvillerecord.com/News/20 ... e/004.html

AMAZING!

And look, it was not done under the gaze of proper police or prison officials (As Lee himself says it should be done) but instead under the authority of a local town council member!

A direct quote from the article:

- "In addition to accepting Lees proposal and organizing the event, Horsley was on hand to secure the chain and padlock on the cell before Lee could begin the process of his miracle escape."

However, it was not performed in full view.

Too bad.

Uncle Stripe 30 Jul 2009

#37

You guys should know by now that you are never going to be as fast a thinker as Steve..

Don't you know by now that he anticipates your conjured up rhetoric at every twist and turn and has

answers already penned in for a sharp tongued response!

Steve is just too great for even you malcontents and disbelievers...

Take a look at the Death Row Yoo Tube video just for an instance.

Look at him at the ending freeing the Mayor and then extreemly and stealthily and Quickly scooping up

all the padlocks so the Mayor or News guys wont try to get a neat souvenir without paying for it...

Or could it be that they might try to switch them for a gimmicked padlock and make false claim that

Steve has somehow tried to pull a fast one over on the people and also the press.

Anyway, Way 2 go again Steve.

P.S. Steve, You still have not told me what brand of handcuffs and leg irons did you use in the death row escape..

Mr. E 30 Jul 2009

#38

"For his next endeavor, Lee is looking for support from show business moguls to attempt an underground escape. He is prepared to be buried alive in a six-foot deep grave, and covered with six tons of rock and cement, a feat that has yet to be achieved by any escape artist to date."

I am all for Michael Lee trying this one! Perhaps he will suffer the same fate as Joe Burrus and we won't have to hear his tall tales, outright lies, and his bashing of other EAs anymore. Come on Michael, what are you waiting for? DO IT!!!!

Anonymous 30 Jul 2009

#39

Who is Mr. E ?

Anonymous 30 Jul 2009

#40

He came along right after Mr. D

Anon666 30 Jul 2009

#41

It's probably all the same person suffering from multiple personality disorder...

Mr. X 31 Jul 2009

#42

"Who is Mr. E ?"

I guess Mr. E is a "mystery"...."Mr. E"....get it?!!

Chufu 31 Jul 2009

#43

It is the role of an Escape King to make sure the advantage is on their side when they are locked in any item! Norm

MarioManzini 31 Jul 2009

#44

Hi Steve:
Just saw your jail escape & read the comments. You did Great!. Proud of you. Whatever methods you used is not important. What is important is that you did it and got media coverage. Don't let any jealous people bring
you down. I get that all the time. I've escaped from 26 locked jail cells over the years and get the same feed back most likely from the same peole.
Remember Houdini did so many jail cell escapes during his career and used didfferent methods. The outcome is what is important. News Media coverage.
Proud of you.
Mario Manzini

Steve Santini 31 Jul 2009

#45

Thank you.

I do not let anyone get me down.

Been in this biz far too long to let the little people, small minds, or jealous wanna be's bother me.

Cheers, Steve

Uncle Stripe 03 Aug 2009

#46

Steve, continue to don't take BS from mumble grumble crowd.

/
----------------------------------------------------------

Now everyone please come together and stop knockin Steve. Cannot you see that he is trying to be very

entertainful for the masses?

Steve, how many handcuffs and leg irons did you use in the "Death Row Cell" escape?

Unresolved image reference ↗

Uncle Stripe 03 Aug 2009

#47

You seeing the family resemblance right?

Best handcuffs regards from Uncle Stripe.

The Amazing Michael 03 Aug 2009

#48

Cool pic Uncle Stripe! That was taken at Steve's "Dragged To Death Escape" a couple of years back. You can find video footage of this escape and some still pics on his website. That escape was really cool! In fact, it was so cool that the legendary Harry Murphy stole.....excuse me, >borrowed< the idea and performed it the very next weekend after he heard about it. Of course, Harry didn't have thousands of people watching him perform it or have a major radio station and a major newspaper covering it.....he said that his performance was done in the parking lot of a local bar with about 20 or so people watching. I am sure that it was as great as it sounds. <br>
I don't know how many cuffs were used during his last jail escape but I did see a bad-ass transport belt in the mix!!! It looked like the steel rings were on the sides of the belt as oppossed to a single one on the front. Very cool!

BTW, I read through some of this thread and noticed that some people were whining about the jail door bolt and I am suprised that Steve didn't set the record straight on this issue yet. THE DOOR BOLTS WERE DISABLED ON ALL OF THE CELL DOORS! This prison is now a tourist attraction and the steel loops that the bolts slide into were removed a long time ago so that tourists don't get locked in. Maybe they should have welded one back on just for this escape. LOL! So let's all jeer Steve for his Death Row Cell Escape and pat some dumbass on the back til our hands are red for performing the Cannon Diamond-Plated Steel Box escape. Whatever! Gotta love politics! =)

Steve, congrats on your escape, you are the man! Can't wait to see some of your new escapes!

Cheers, Mike D~C/

Uncle Stripe 03 Aug 2009

#49

So do not you see Steve that I am drumming up the support for you.

You need to take fullest advantage of this until a full aura of the brightest kind envelopes

you to the fullest and all will see the wonderfulness and then maybe leave you alone to ponder

what will surely be your next stupendous EA goal.

Oh, and Michael I think that Cheers is good thing and Jeers is not so good thing so Steve probably

do not want to hear any Jeers coming from any crowds.

Everyone be cool and respect Steve to the fullest extent allowed by HC.org

,
Best handcuffs regards from Uncle Stripe Santini.

Unresolved image reference ↗

Uncle Stripe 03 Aug 2009

#50

Yes Michael I linked to the photo of Steve.

Knowing that he is probably much too humble to post any pictures of himself in

such a victorious pose I tooked the liberty to post it myself.

If and when I figure out how to use my computer movie maker and feel that I have somewhat

mastered some confidence I will embark on perhaps making a small clip to help promote our

Steve.

Best handcuffs regards again from Uncle Stripe..

Unresolved image reference ↗

johanahlberg 03 Aug 2009

#51

Great escape and great publicity!

Many talks about it but Steve has done it!

Johan Ahlberg

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