U.S. marshals have arrested a woman in Augusta who had been on the lam for nearly 17 years, according to a news release.
Sara Jean Rusher, 52, was arrested at The Waffle House at 3134 Peach Orchard Road early Friday morning. She is wanted in Greensboro, N.C., on federal probation violation charges from an arrest warrant that was issued in March 1995.
At the time of her warrant, marshals suspected she went into hiding with her fugitive husband, David Lee Rusher, who had escaped from Estill Federal Prison in Estill, S.C., in February 1995.
Local authorities became aware of her when a woman called to report that her husband had died of emphysema at Flynn’s Inn Camping Village on Peach Orchard Road, said Richmond County Deputy Mark Bowen.
Bowen said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, who called herself Joan Piper Duncan, told him that they were married for 30 years but she could not remember his birthdate or Social Security number. Bowen grew suspicious and, with the help of the sheriff’s office, he ran the man’s fingerprints and found out he was David Lee Rusher.
As soon as the man was identified, the marshals went looking for Sara Rusher.
According to Deputy Charles Brant of the marshal’s office, she was on supervised release from Greensboro police department after serving time for drug charges. She had transferred her release to Florida in February 1995 and then suddenly stopped checking in.
Rusher has admitted to her identity and is now in the custody of the marshals.
She will be extradited to Greensboro to face charges.
David Lee Rusher’s body has been sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation lab for an autopsy. Bowen said the results will be back in 14-16 weeks.
"You can run but you can't hide." Joe Louis("The Brown Bomber")
"You can run but you can't hide." Joe Louis("The Brown Bomber")
Let it go. It will cost us more to do this than it is worth.
So all this because she was on drugs 20 years ago? It sounds like she has stayed cleaned. Was she working at the Waffle House? If so, she's doing better than some.
Enough already. Wasting my tax dollars on someone who appears to have become a successful member of society. The way the article s written she works at the WH...my hat's off to her.
I think the fact that she aided and abetted her husband who was an escaped federal prisoner is crime enough, proof that she is a criminal too.
go over her work record if she is a good waitress let her slide if a bad one lock her up
Let her serve her time through serving others. Salvation Army, women's shelters, etc.
I agree that any further case against her isn't worth pursuing. She had already served her time on drug charges, not for any violent offenses. Best to let the past remain in the past and spend our tax dollars on pursuing violent criminals, not on a case of this nature.
Let her go. She works, pays rent, was in a stable relationship for 17 years. Spend the court's time on dangerous criminals, not this lady.
Heart broken we are...Quick to Forgive we are even more. Sara,Please think about returning to Augusta. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you..And hurry up..Christmas in near...
You have to let the process play out. You may not like the justice system or the financial costs of this case. There is an old saying from the Naval Academy, "Where principle is involved, be deaf to expediency".
She broke the law - true. Is she is this country illegally? No? Then she must go to jail!
Was she harboring a murderer? And should we tell prisoners that if they manage to escape, and make it to some arbitrary number of years of freedom they are rewarded with a pardon?
Sounds like the libs attitude about illegal aliens.
She should go to jail. My point was that if she were an illegal that some group out there would ensure she wouldn't be imprisoned so we wouldn't infringe on her rights to be here illegally!
The Augusta area appears to be gaining the reputation as a top hiding spot for fugitives.
I Know and work with this woman...And i can say she is amazing and im sure everyone and customers can say the same.. Yes her husband escape.(NO he was not a murderer.. Do research.. He was Ill For several years and she took care of him, Only so he wouldnt die in Prison..But If you really think about it..She didnt run knowing he passed away and they would find out who he really was.. She stuck around knowing it was time for her to finally Breathe again and exhale and come clean and get this over with and live again.Not having to worry or look over her shoulder.... Sara was waiting to exhale... Joan(her alias) died when he did..
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