Pulaski, Tenn—38 years ago Linda Darby, then just 27 years-old apparently murdered her husband. She was sentenced to life in prison for her crime. Fate had another plan for Darby when she jumped at an opportunity for freedom by
scaling a barbed-wire fence at the Indiana Women's Prison in Indianapolis in March 1972. The manhunt for the fugitive came up empty handed for no less then 35 years.
New computer technology was put to use as the Indiana Department of Corrections began a new Fugitive Apprehension Unit provided the resources to find Darby quietly living a law-abiding life under the name, Linda Joe McElroy in Tennessee.
Darby spent more than half of her life looking over her shoulder while reliving the event that suddenly changed her life forever.
As for the crime of killing a spouse we all know there is nobody on earth more capable of evoking emotion or pushing our buttons more than a spouse.
Darby was convicted in a Lake County, Indiana court of shooting her husband in their Hammond home. Additionally a kerosene fire was started. Darby has steadfastly said she was innocent. We all know that the state of forensic examination was anything but terrific in the early 1970’s when a jury convicted her.
You can say she beat the system to be living free all these years. I don’t think living the life of the fictional character Jean Valjean was not a huge price to pay for this crime.
Long time neighbors and local cops were shocked to learn of Darby’s status as a fugitive and convicted murderer.
Okay, I’ve grown soft in my old age and would love to see this woman’s sentence commuted if for no other reason then her serving nearly three years behind bars and her obvious rehabilitation.
Here are some “facts” about Linda Darby’s murder conviction:
1. Linda and Charles Darby were estranged at the time of the killing.
2. Charles was hit with a shotgun blast, wrapped in garment bags and set on fire.
3. On the night of the killing Linda Darby stayed in a Valparasio motel where police found a similar shotgun hidden behind a nearby soda machine.
4. Gas station attendant claimed to have sold Linda Darby Gasoline that night.
5. Darby’s 9 year-old daughter, Terri Dixon claimed that her mother warned her about talking with police.
6. The couple had financial problems that led to the break-up.
7. There was no surveillance video, DNA evidence or witnesses to the killing.
Comments
1. Public safety
2. Rehabilitation
3. Punishment.
1 & 2 have been covered well with 35 years good behavior. As for punishment this woman served about three years behind bars. 35 years on the run with no citizenship, friends or relatives in your past is hardly a cake walk. I say let’s revisit the crime and her reasoning, cruelty and deeds beyond the killing. I say she was redeemed.
If she was a career criminal killing for monetary gain I’d not be so kind. Stand by for more information.
Escape from captivity is a human instinct and is in conflict with our laws. If a person is innocent and escapes from custody it’s still a crime and that’s just not right.
Our famous fictional fugitive, Dr. Richard Kimball would face a lifetime felony conviction and prison term after finding the elusive one-armed man. Imagine the ending to that story being that Dr. Kimball is sent back to custody for five years and is barred from practicing medicine because of that escape conviction. Yikes!
Unfortunately this isn't the movies, and she was adjudicated guilty by her peers. You can't use the innocent defense when she was found guilty. I also haven't seen any evidence indicating that she didn't commit the crime.
When you escape your normal court appeals end. We will never know what may have been.
We are not in a perfect world any more than this woman has gotten a free ride for a murder. Three years behind bars and decades in hiding was real punishment.
Perhaps our maker should be the one to decide her ultimate guilt and punishment.
Gary Avery, prosecutor (retired)
If my wife killed me for being a jerk I’d never want her life destroyed by a criminal prosecution. I made the choice good or bad to live under the same roof with my killer. Perhaps I should have not been a jerk!
If my death were arranged for financial gain my reaction would be different.
In this case I say let Linda Darby go.
To my pal the "Old Copper" you're right, I have gone soft in my old age.
So please people show some considaration and lenancy towards your offenders and treat them as humans .It will in the long run be benificial to them yourself and society in general.
Using this as a basis, Linda Darby darby may be deterred now (specific deterrence theory), but someone brought up a good point. What about the message this sends to others. They must be deterred from committing crimes like this as well. If we don't make her finish her sentence then others won't be deterred from such behavior (general deterrence theory). Punishment is not the only reason she should finish out her sentence.
Getting a pound of flesh for this woman now is just plain dumb. Let’s spend the money locking up a young and violent criminal instead of this old lady.
There comes a time when common sense, and compassion are more important than your “social control”. Had this woman been out doing bad things for the more than three decades she spent out on the lam I’d not be asking for a little mercy for the woman.
Once again FUCK THE SYSTEM