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It didn’t take long after America’s Most Wanted aired the episode featuring the Top Ten Fugitives of 2008 that the show led to the latest capture. After being on the run since last August, convicted murderer Sarah Pender, the most wanted female, was caught, thanks to viewer tips.

On August 4, Pender became the fifth most wanted fugitive in the country after an escape from the medium-security Rockville Correctional Facility in Indiana. She was aided by Scott A. Spitler, whom she was allegedly having a sexual relationship with. Interestingly enough, it was a reversal of situation, as usually the women fall in love with imprisoned men and help them escape. Spitler had been an officer at Rockville for five years when he put it all on the line to help Pender as he drove her out of the facility as she hid in his van.

Pender had originally been incarcerated in 2002 for being the mastermind behind the plan to murder her two roommates, shooting each with a shotgun, then dumping them in a dumpster. She was serving a 110 year sentence, while her boyfriend who had aided her was sentenced to 75 years. It can’t be coincidental that she turned to yet another man to help with her escape. Spitler is now facing charges of Assisting a Criminal, Official Misconduct, Sexual Misconduct and Trafficking with an Inmate.

Less than two hours of America’s Most Wanted aired, a viewer called into the Chicago Police Department, telling them exactly where she had been living under the name of Ashley Thompson. The police made it in the nick of time, as when they knocked on her door that night around 10:00, they found her packing her bag, apparently in a hurry to go somewhere. After she admitted she was Pender, she was arrested.

The John Walsh-hosted America’s Most Wanted has been responsible for 1049 captures to date. You can find out more about the latest capture at amw.com.

Photo courtesy of amw.com

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