I do not understand. As a person who lives by woods, but not in NY, going through woods is just about impossible. Uneven terrain. Insects. Branches that hit you in the face and head. And getting lost. Even if you know what direction you are going, so what! Where does it lead?
Are there marked trails they are following somehow? I do not see how anyone can walk through the woods at night.
And if they get to Canada, so what! Do they have friends there, money, what? It's not like Canadians like escaped killers. And they have American accents which will make them stand out.