OHIO (WJW) – An Ohio man who has been on the run for 56 years after being convicted of voluntary manslaughter has been captured in Florida.
According to a release from the U.S. Marshals Service, Frank Freshwaters, 79, was arrested in Florida, on May 4 after an extensive investigation by the new Cold Case Unit of the U.S. Marshal’s Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
Authorities say Freshwaters was the driver of a vehicle involved in a car vs. pedestrian accident which resulted in a death in July 1957. Freshwaters pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to one to 20 years in prison.
Initially, Freshwaters’ sentence was suspended, and he was given probation for 60 months. Then, in February 1959, he was found guilty of violating his probation, and his original sentence was imposed.
Freshwater did time at the infamous Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, but authorities say he was able to earn the trust of prison officials and was moved to the Sandusky Honor Farm to finish his sentence.
On September 30, 1959, he escaped and fled the state.
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