Thirty years ago, brothers Linwood, James and Anthony Briley and accomplice Duncan Meekins went on a months-long murderous rampage in the Richmond area. Authorities say the gang was responsible for at least 11 homicides and possibly several others. The Brileys and Meekins were arrested in October 1979. Linwood and James Briley were sent to death row at Mecklenburg Correctional Center. On May 31, 1984, James and Linwood Briley led the largest death row escape in the nation’s history, taking with them Derick Peterson, Earl Clanton Jr., Willie Jones and Lem Tuggle. All were recaptured and eventually executed.
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