A Bold Life on the Lam Ends in Quiet Surrender

In the clapboard house in North Carolina last week, Parker fought back tears as he dressed. It had been almost 40 years since the law had drawn down on him, and he had forgotten how it felt to be locked up.

While he got ready for jail, the nurse who stops in daily to care for him packed his meds and other items in a plastic bag.

When it was time to go, the deputies didn't handcuff Parker, Deputy Taylor said. There was no need. Other than Parker's friend and the nurse, there was nobody in the house. The weapon near Parker's headboard was a BB gun.

Authorities would not say how they found Parker, but a law enforcement source said he was traced through his driver's license. Maryland authorities said neither Parker's age nor health will affect the decision to return him to Maryland.

His arrest was part of a crime-fighting program, said Sgt. Arthur Betts of the Maryland State Police, which was tasked by the corrections department to find Parker.

"Getting wanted people off the streets is a way to reduce overall crime in the state," he said.

Officials said Parker is probably not a threat to the public. But, they said, their hands are tied.

"The question is what will happen when he comes back to Maryland," Betts said. "That will be left up to the courts and a judge."

Alice Evans, a niece of Parker's who lives down the street in Clinton, said she learned of her uncle's fate from a reporter. "I just couldn't believe it," she said. "My uncle has been right here. Everybody who knows him loves him."

For many, Parker has become somewhat of a folk hero. Others say that what happened is not so much an injustice as it is a chicken coming home to roost. He did escape from prison and admits to being tangled up in some serious messes.

"I don't have much time left," he said. "I really don't want to spend it in jail. But the most important thing is clearing my name. I thought Maryland had released me, so I went on living my life. I want to tell them that, so they'll know I wasn't running."

Staff researchers Meg Smith, Rena Kirsch and Magda Jean-Louis contributed to this report.