Inmate found 35 years after escape (Convicted of murdering her husband in 1970)

Yahoo News / AP ^ | October 16, 2007

[Stoat]

Inmate found 35 years after escape

19 minutes ago

 

PULASKI, Tenn. - A convicted murderer who escaped from an Indiana prison 35 years ago was found living quietly in a small Tennessee town, authorities said Tuesday.

Linda Darby, 64, was arrested Friday in Pulaski, a small city near the Alabama border where she was going by the name Linda Joe McElroy.

Giles County Sheriff Kyle Helton said he was acquainted with Darby and thought she had been living in Pulaski for at least 30 years.

"As far as I know she never had any criminal history after she came here," he said. "She never got into any trouble. She led a flawless life."

Darby was sentenced to life in prison in 1970 for her husband's murder, but she escaped from the Indiana Women's Prison in March 1972 by climbing over a barbed-wire fence.

Pulaski Police Capt. John Dickey said investigators in Indiana had contacted the department about Darby and authorities from both states worked together to find and arrest her.

Helton said she was being held at the county jail and has waived an extradition hearing. She was expected to be moved to Indiana on Tuesday.

[Stoat]

Also:

Hoosier escapee lived quietly 35 years in Tennessee IndyStar.com

Her arrest came two weeks after the start of the Indiana Department of Correction’s new Indiana Fugitive Apprehension Unit, which aids in the recapture of offenders who have escaped from confinement, fled residential programs or vanished while on parole.

Since the unit’s creation, two other fugitives have been identified and apprehended. DOC officials said that about 300 Indiana fugitives remain at large.

Video available at this next linked page:

NewsChannel 5.com Nashville, Tennessee - Ind. Fugitive Caught Three Decades Later In Pulaski

"That blew my mind.  I couldn't believe she was capable of doing anything like that," said Martha Slater, a neighbor.

On Friday, a Pulaski detective arrested Darby, who was known in Pulaski as Linda McElroy.

Pulaski is about 75 miles south of Nashville.

Some residents said the 64-year-old woman was sweet and quiet.

"I still don't believe she done that. It doesn't seem like that kind of person, to me she doesn't," Slater said.

Linda Darby
 

Martha Slater
 

Capt. John Dickey

 

[dead]

She will do absolutely no additional time in prison, on account of her lack of a penis.

[Stoat]

I know for a fact that if Free Republic’s Deputy Sheriff had been on this case, she would have been caught a whole lot sooner.

[JamesP81]

bttt

[mad puppy]

Any particular reason she killed her husband?

How long till we hear he was beating the crap out of her and deserved it?

[-=SoylentSquirrel=-]

Humorous.

You.

I don't LOL very often; you got me with that one.

[LADY J]

"I know for a fact that if Free Republic’s Deputy Sheriff had been on this case, she would have been caught a whole lot sooner."

-Since the unit’s creation, two other fugitives have been identified and apprehended. DOC officials said that about 300 Indiana fugitives remain at large.-

Looks like you still have your chance. 300 more to go - so you'd better get busy!!

[Abathar]

If looks mean anything then... “GUILTY!!”

[-=SoylentSquirrel=-]

At first glance it appears that if her husband did indeed beat her, it was with an ugly stick. A whole mess of 'em. They may have even cut down the entire ugly forest for that that one.

Seriously, if she did indeed kill her cruel, abusive husband, and she never caused anyone any harm otherwise in 30-odd years, I declare her re-arrest be be a colossal waste of money and manpower.

[Stoat]

"Referred Ping"

"I know for a fact that if Free Republic’s Deputy Sheriff had been on this case, she would have been caught a whole lot sooner."

-Since the unit’s creation, two other fugitives have been identified and apprehended. DOC officials said that about 300 Indiana fugitives remain at large.-

Looks like you still have your chance. 300 more to go - so you'd better get busy!!

 

"I know for a fact that if Free Republic’s Deputy Sheriff had been on this case, she would have been caught a whole lot sooner."

-Since the unit’s creation, two other fugitives have been identified and apprehended. DOC officials said that about 300 Indiana fugitives remain at large.-

Looks like you still have your chance. 300 more to go - so you'd better get busy!!

[gridlock]

Three fugitives in two weeks. That’s not bad...

[Bon mots]

She will do absolutely no additional time in prison, on account of her lack of a penis.

BINGO!

Talk about hitting the nail right on the head!

[Bon mots]

How long till we hear he was beating the crap out of her and deserved it?

Come on, he had it coming!
He probably asked her to wear a wig or sexy undergarment.

So she HAD to butcher him.

[JamesP81]

"I still don't believe she done that. It doesn't seem like that kind of person, to me she doesn't," Slater said.

People change. She may not be that person anymore.

[RosieCotton]

This is probably a naive statement, but I wonder how this would even be possible anymore. How do you get away with getting a job or a bank account or manage to live anything like a normal life without some sort of ID? Seems as though we’re tracked every which way we turn.

[Badeye]

‘People change. She may not be that person anymore.’

Umm, she’s still convicted murderer who escaped.

That will never change.

btw, her dead husband is still dead, that won’t change either.

[ArtyFO]

I wonder if she was fingered when she applied for social security.

[JamesP81]

Umm, she’s still convicted murderer who escaped. That will never change.

Legally speaking, you're right. I was referring more to her character as a person.

[reagan_fanatic]

Separated at birth?

[Stoat]

"I still don't believe she done that. It doesn't seem like that kind of person, to me she doesn't," Slater said.

People change. She may not be that person anymore.

And she may never have been a vicious, cold-blooded killer to begin with.  Sometimes people simply "need killin'" and it's a one-off deal. 

Sadly, according to the video police aren't releasing any details of the original crime and so we many never learn the circumstances unless somebody digs in the archives of local newspapers.