KNBC has a fascinating report on an escaped convict caught by police after three decades on the lam. Susan Lefevre got into drugs as a teenager and was caught participating in a $200 drug deal (there she is looking pretty cracked out in her mug shot). She received a sentence common at the time, but which seems unduly harsh now: 10 to 20 years in prison. Thinking she wouldn't be out of jail before she was too old to have a family, and that it was impossible to appeal, she let her grandfather bust her out of prison.
Then she changed her name to Marie Day, got a job, and became a wife and mother of three. Now she's been caught and put back into jail more than 30 years later.
KNBC.com has a series of jailhouse interviews in which she tells the story of how she wound up in jail in the first place and how she kept from being caught for so long.
Imagine the shock of her husband when she found out his wife was a fugitive from justice. He's issued this statement: "I've known my wife, Marie, for over 23 years, and she is a person of the highest integrity. During that time, she has been a caring and wonderful wife and mother. She has raised three beautiful children and has worked hard to build a good life for them in this community."
It's a tragedy for the family, but breaking out of jail is a pretty illegal thing to do. Just because the original punishment was too harsh and she's led an upright life since then doesn't necessarily mean she should get off scot free now, right?
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. They should never have brought her back here,set her free to go home..Don and Dennis
Dennis at 9:29AM on May 15th 2008
17. haha.
i like the guy that emphasized that this story IS MONTHS OLD.
...but i guess it's really like 23 years old, isn't it?
hannah at 1:38PM on May 15th 2008
18. Dear Maureen,
You are a credit to your Mother and to us all. Your remarks are beautifully stated. Mr. Wilde had his own sad tragedy to reckon and speaks to the heart, as you have done. Love and Blessings to you and your family, and for her quick return.
Peace and Light,
Another Thing at 3:40PM on May 15th 2008
19. To show support for Marie, please visit her website at
www.freesusanlefevre.com
Please sign the petition link requesting Governor Granholm to reduce Marie's sentence.
Thank You
Friends and family of Marie
anna at 7:39PM on May 15th 2008
20. Make her finish her sentence plus extra time for the escape from prison. Of course she stayed clean, wouldnt you if you faced return to prison if caught, duh? Think you would be let go after escaping from prison on Heroin charges? How many lives have been destroyed by drug dealers? Her friend was found face down shot execution style in the back of the head after she escaped and they never caught the killer. Maybe she murdered him herself or knows something about it but not much is said about that. She may also be a killer so no lets not let her go. If all I have to do to get out of a prison sentence is escape then I say that all convicts should just escape. Thats what your saying! Think before you speak!
rick at 8:23PM on May 15th 2008
21. Rick:
"Of course she stayed clean...wouldn't you if you faced prison if caught?"
If that was all there was to it, how do you explain tha rate of recidivism among parolees and, for that matter most other's either recently released or 'self-liberated' from prison? Obviously, the argument that she only stayed clean to stay out of prison just doesn't hold water.
Keith J. Mohrhoff at 7:54AM on May 16th 2008