Elderly fugitive extradited
by Lori Barrett | May 16, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Posted in Uncategorized
Back in April, we first talked about 81-year-old Willie Parker, who escaped from a Maryland prison in 1965.
Willie served 10 years of a 40-year sentence for robbery before he walked away from prison. He spent most of the next 43 years above ground, even being arrested without anyone making the connection. Willie was convinced no one was looking for him anymore, and was even using his real name to vote and collect Social Security. Now Maryland has had enough.
Willie, who walks with a cane and required assistance getting dressed when his last warrant was served, was suddenly taken into custody this morning — so suddenly, that he wasn’t even able to take his medication or a change of clothes with him to court.
He is now in North Carolina awaiting a formal extradition request from Maryland. Looks like Willie will soon be heading back to prison.
Is this case worth the resources needed to bring him back to Maryland and re-incarcerate him? Or should Willie be allowed to live the rest of his days as a free man?
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May 16th, 2008 at 9:04 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I do think it's kind of ridiculous to send an 81 yr old man to jail, I can't imagine my own grandfather trying to survive in prison. But it gives the wrong idea, if you escape and can stay under the radar long enough, your sentence will just be cleared. Maybe it should be based on a case by case basis, which I know nothing about Willy's.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:57 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
This seems like a case of simple math to me. 40-10=30. Willie owes the state of Maryland 30 more years behind bars. I'm assuming this was no minor robbery if it got him a 40 yr sentence to begin with. I hope Willie dies behind bars. You do the crime you do the time.
We need stiff sentences for criminals.. and no televisions , radios, weight lifting etc when in jail. You should get 4 walls a cot and a crapper.
Maybe if our criminal justice system wasn't such a joke we wouldn't have so many repeat offenders and criminals walking our streets.
May 18th, 2008 at 11:19 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
That's an excellent idea woodchuck - then when those awful human beings are released back into your community they'll be REALLY twisted and dysfunctional. Perfect! Mission accomplished.
You're a genius.
Newsflash - they used to do EXACTLY what you're talking about. And the inmates that didn't chew through their own wrists in an attempt to die ended up as primal beasts.
But don't take my word for it - Do a little researh on Eastern State Penitentiary - the first of our "modern" penal institutions. You'll find that the sort of practice you describe was discontinued for a good reason.
!