Escaped convict returned
to Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Sarah Pender is back behind bars after on the run for several months.
Investigators say a tip led them to Pender who was living in a Chicago Apartment.

"When someone is a fugitive they are desperate. People that are desperate do desperate things," Doug Garrison with the Indiana Department on Correction said.

After five months on the run, 29 year-old Sarah Pender is back behind bars.

"The system did its job," Major Joe Ditmer with the Indiana Women's Prison said.

Pender was arrested Saturday night in Chicago.

In August she escaped from the Rockville Correctional Facility.

"It's a good effort from all the agencies," Deputy Commissioner Michael Osburn said.

Before her escape Pender was serving a 110 year prison sentence for killing two people in Indianapolis 8 years ago.

Investigators said she is dangerous.

"Not only because of her initial charge that put her in prison, but she manipulates very, very well," Indiana Women's Prison Superintendent Beckie Bennett said.

Department of Correction officials escorted Pender to the Indiana Women's Prison Monday afternoon. She was wearing handcuffs and a yellow Purdue University sweatshirt.

"She will basically go to our segregation unit. She'll will be in an isolation cell that is under monitoring," Superintendent Bennett said.

Someone tipped off Chicago Police after they recognized Pender on America's Most Wanted.

"Once it got put out there eyes got out there and somebody had saw here and reported it," Major Ditmer said.

That tip led police to a Chicago apartment.

"She initially denied being Sarah Pender; She didn't offer any resistance, but fairly quickly there after she said that's who I am. She didn't resist she came along with them," Garrison said. "She clearly had some help. You don't get an apartment in a different city, big city like Chicago without help."

Investigators arrested Prison Guard Scott Spitler and Pender's friend Jamie Long for helping her escape in August.

They say their next step is to find out who helped her while she was on the run for five months.