MALONE, N.Y. — The escaped convicts had been caught, the search was over and residents of the villages and hamlets across northern New York State were breathing a collective sigh of relief this week.

But Courtney Lord, 28, who was born and raised in this agricultural town about 30 miles from where the two men had tunneled out of a maximum-security state prison, admitted to feeling disappointed.

“I’m not glad it’s over,” Ms. Lord said. “That’s the most excitement this town has seen!”

The two men were murderers and considered very dangerous: Richard W. Matt, 49, a second-time escapee, had killed and dismembered his boss, among other crimes; David Sweat, 35, had shot and killed a sheriff’s officer and run over him with his car. Still, Ms. Lord, who has a young daughter, found herself rooting for them to make it to Canada and turn the manhunt into an international dragnet.

“I wanted them to keep running,” she continued, adding, after some thought, “But I also wanted them to be caught.”