Jail Break: The Prison Escape of Paul Ruiz and Earl Van Denton is a gripping true crime account of two desperate men whose escape from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in 1977 sparked a violent and deadly crime spree across multiple states. Paul Ruiz and Earl Van Denton were hardened criminals—lifers with nothing left to lose—who meticulously plotted their breakout from a crumbling brick factory, exploiting the complacency of prison guards. Their daring escape was only the beginning of a dark odyssey that left a trail of fear, death, and destruction in their wake.

From the moment they slipped through the prison's grasp, Ruiz and Van Denton embarked on a ruthless journey through Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas—robbing, kidnapping, and murdering anyone who stood in their way. As law enforcement scrambled to catch up, the fugitives proved to be relentless and unpredictable, evading capture and growing more dangerous with each passing day. The crimes they committed were shocking in their brutality, culminating in the murders of a small-town marshal and two unsuspecting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers workers, leaving a community shattered and law enforcement in a desperate hunt for justice.

This book delves deep into the lives of Ruiz and Van Denton, from their troubled childhoods and time behind bars to the fateful day they made their escape and the bloody rampage that followed. Drawing on firsthand accounts, court records, and investigative reports, Jail Break reconstructs the chilling events with raw detail, offering a haunting look into the minds of two men who stopped at nothing to taste freedom.

Perfect for fans of true crime, prison break stories, and unsolved mysteries, Jail Break is a riveting, unflinching account of crime, justice, and the thin line between desperation and violence.

Will justice prevail, or will their legacy of terror endure?