June 16, 201610 yr Police: Man Who Escaped Prison in 1979 Found in Kentucky - ABC News A man who police say escaped from a Georgia prison in 1979 and eluded authorities for nearly four decades has been arrested in eastern Kentucky. Police in Laurel County say 67-year-old Billy Burchfield was living under an assumed name, Harold Arnold, which he took from a cousin who had died. Burchfield was serving a 16-year sentence for manslaughter when he escaped 37 years ago. Laurel County Sheriff's spokesman Gilbert Acciardo said a tip from law enforcement in Jackson County, Georgia, led them to the suspect. Detectives went to a house in Laurel County on Wednesday night and spoke with Burchfield, who submitted to fingerprinting. Kentucky State Police and FBI officials used the prints to confirm his identity. Police said Burchfield kept a low profile and had no criminal record in Kentucky. "Probably somebody like that is going to fly under the radar," Acciardo said. "You (would) have to keep your nose extremely clean and apparently that's what he's done." When he was approached by police on Wednesday night, he denied he was a fugitive and continued to deny it after being fingerprinted, Acciardo said. "He's saying he's not that person," Acciardo said. No one answered the phone Thursday at a phone number listed at the London, Kentucky, address where Burchfield was living as Harold Arnold. Burchfield is being held in Kentucky as a fugitive until he is extradited back to Georgia, Acciardo said.
June 16, 201610 yr I am really glad to see our law enforcement professionals staying on the case no matter how long it took to solve. Good work everyone.
June 16, 201610 yr Figures that it took a fugitive to keep a low profile and have no criminal record.
June 20, 201610 yr IMO they should look at how the guy has lived his life since the crime and consider that when sentencing.
June 20, 201610 yr Living in London for 37 years may have been worse than 16 in prison....I'm kidding. London isn't that bad.
June 20, 201610 yr IMO they should look at how the guy has lived his life since the crime and consider that when sentencing. Original sentence was 16 years plus he would be looking at another 5 to 10 for escaping. What do you think would be fair?
June 20, 201610 yr I think they should allow him to go free with the stipulation that he gets tased once a day.
June 20, 201610 yr I think they should allow him to go free with the stipulation that he gets tased once a day. Who's doing the tasing?
June 20, 201610 yr Who's doing the tasing? Local sheriff's department or maybe the constable. They are always looking for more action than they're qualified for anyways
June 20, 201610 yr Local sheriff's department or maybe the constable. They are always looking for more action than they're qualified for anyways Smells like a lawsuit.
June 20, 201610 yr Original sentence was 16 years plus he would be looking at another 5 to 10 for escaping. What do you think would be fair? Not to mention the identity theft.
June 20, 201610 yr Not to mention the identity theft. Is it really identity theft when the identity you stole is dead? What's the harm in that?! :jump:
June 20, 201610 yr Is it really identity theft when the identity you stole is dead? What's the harm in that?! :jump: Dead people vote all the them so why not? Lol
June 20, 201610 yr Not sure how many years he did prior to walk away....willing to give him credit for time served and probation possibly given the circumstances of his case and time.
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