George Wright, Fugitive Behind 1972 Airplane Hijacking, Caught In Portugal

[The Northerner]

NEWARK, N.J. — A convicted killer who escaped a New Jersey prison in 1970 and hijacked a U.S. airliner two years later while dressed as a priest has been captured in Portugal after more than 40 years as a fugitive, authorities said on Tuesday.

George Wright was arrested on Monday by Portuguese authorities at the request of the U.S. government, the head of the FBI's New Jersey office said.

Wright was convicted of the 1962 murder of a gas station owner in Wall, N.J. Authorities say Wright and three associates had already committed multiple armed robberies on Nov. 23, 1962, when Wright and another man shot and killed Walter Patterson, a decorated World War II veteran and father of two, during a robbery of the Collingswood Esso gas station in Wall.

He received a 15- to 30-year sentence and had served eight years when he and three other men escaped from the Bayside State Prison in Leesburg, N.J. on Aug. 19, 1970.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/longtime-fugitive-us-hijacker-george-wright-caugth_n_983608.html

[Fumesucker]

1. The last paragraph in that piece was ironic considering the anthrax killer is still on the loose..

"This case should ... serve notice that the FBI's determination in pursuing subjects will not diminish over time or distance," said Michael Ward, the agent in charge of the Newark division.

[blueknight]

2. how ironic

the FBI will go to every corner of the world to catch a guy escaped from prison, while wall street execs steal and pillage all they want.

[hootinholler]

6. Totally consistent with the anthrax case...

The first subject they pursued until he was fired and sued them to stop.

The second subject they pursued until he committed suicide in a particularly painful way.

I'm kinda hoping they don't choose another subject until they have reasonable clarity of involvement.

-Hoot

[hifiguy]

3. So where is D.B. Cooper, anyway?

:shrug:

[Gregorian]

4. Why are they focusing on little criminals? What about...oh, they're rich.

[formercia]

5. It's always been that way

He probably just ran out of money and was tired of running.