A search for a fugitive from Edinburgh that spanned four decades finally came to an end early Wednesday morning in Shelby County.
Gary Lee Burton has been wanted by local authorities since he escaped from a Indiana Dept. of Correction facility in Clark County in June, 1982.
At the time that he and another inmate made their getaway from the Henryville Work Release Center, Burton was only 24 years old.
Although the other escapee was recaptured within a week, Burton was able to successfully evade capture for the next 36 years.
But his luck finally ran out when the now 60-year-old Burton was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving by a deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Dept.
After attempting to pass off a relative’s identification as his own, the deputy discovered Burton’s ID was fake – and eventually the fugitive’s true identity was uncovered.
Although only two preliminary misdemeanor charges were filed in Shelby County this week against Burton – false informing and operating a vehicle while intoxicated – he has been ordered held without bond for other counties that have long been searching for him.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.
