convict news stories on Newser

Barbour's Pardoned Convicts Go Missing

Matt Cantor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:32:05 CST

First, Haley Barbour issued a spate of controversial last-minute pardons ; then, a judge rejected a number of them , calling back five men who'd been released from prison. But the dust still hasn't settled: Those five men, convicted of murder and robbery, are nowhere to be found. The Mississippi attorney general's...

Killer Loses Bid for Prison-Paid Sex Change

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:44:07 CDT

A transgender California prisoner has lost a bid to force the state to pay for a sex change operation. Lyralisa Stevens, who was born male but lives as a woman, sued the state, demanding that the public fund surgery to remove her male genitalia , at a cost of as much...

Bank Robber Suspected in Bomb Plot Near Columbine

Matt Cantor — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:05:05 CDT

The FBI suspects a paroled bank robber, still at large, planted a pipe bomb at a mall near Columbine last week , Reuters reports. Earl Albert Moore “is considered armed and dangerous and has an extensive criminal background,” the FBI said. The 65-year-old had been a “person of interest” after appearing...

Why I Married a Murderer

Matt Cantor — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 09:20:29 CST

We hear stories about women who write love letters to convicted murderers, women in love with inmates—pieces that label the women “crazy ladies.” The fact is, you don’t have to be crazy to marry a murderer, writes Amy Friedman in Salon . She should know: she did it herself. Friedman...

Convict's Suicide Plan: 'Be Bear Food'

Matt Cantor — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:59:05 CST

An escaped convict wanted to end his life in a less-than-usual way: by overdosing on heroin in Yellowstone National Park and then letting bears eat him. But before he injected the drug, a voice told him not to do it. Instead, he tried to hitchhike to Indiana to visit family,...

Murderous Cons Hiding Out in Yellowstone

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:22:00 CDT

The remaining two murderous cons who escaped from an Arizona prison and their female accomplice are hiding out in Yellowstone Park, police believe. The trio likely fled to the area after one of the escapees murdered an older couple in New Mexico and stole their pickup truck, according to law...

Texas Inmate Made 70 Trips to Wal-Mart

Harry Kimball — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:09:02 CST

A convicted burglar slipped out of prison in Texas to make a late-night run to Wal-Mart for cigarettes, then slipped back in. About 70 different times. The 19-year-old reportedly dyed his prison uniform with coffee so he wouldn't raise eyebrows at the store, reports the Austin American-Statesman . It also helped...

Facebook Deletes Pages of 30 British Prisoners

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:30:00 CST

Facebook has pulled down 30 pages belonging to British convicts after the Justice Secretary complained they were using them to taunt their victims’ families. Jack Straw made the request after meeting with victims and said the profiles were down within 48 hours. One gangster said he could not wait to...

At 'Felony Franks,' Ex-Cons Serve Dogs to Wary Populace

Harry Kimball — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:26:00 CDT

A snarkily named hot dog stand has its up-and-coming Chicago neighborhood sizzling. Felony Franks employs ex-cons to sling hot dogs with names like the “Misdemeanor Wiener” and the “Cellmate” (two dogs). Step up to the bulletproof serving window and an employee will ask you to “plead your case.” But some...