Frank Freshwaters Arrested : Killer who escaped Ohio lockup nabbed after 56 years on lam

Frank Freshwaters, a 79-year-old man on the lam for 56 years after being convicted of manslaughter was arrested Monday in Brevard County, authorities said.

Frank Freshwaters (79) admitted his true identity on Monday when US police tracked him down to an address in Florida where he had been living under the assumed name William H Cox.

Freshwaters was convicted on a manslaughter charge after fatally striking a 24-year-old pedestrian in July 1957, and his initial sentence of one to 20 years in prison was suspended.

After violating the terms of his probation Freshwaters was imprisoned at the Ohio State Reformatory, also known as Shawshank State Prison, in February 1959.

He was soon moved to Sandusky Ohio Honor Farm, where he was reported missing on September 30th, 1959, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

The investigation into his escape was recently reopened by a newly created task force in Ohio and they uncovered evidence that he might be living in the Florida area.

Authorities believe Freshwater had lived in several states, working as a truck driver, before settling in Brevard County where they believe he resided for about 20 years.

Freshwater was arrested at his Florida home after Ohio police uncovered evidence he had been living in Brevard County for about 20 years.

He was transported to the Brevard County Jail on a No Bond status, where he will await extradition back to the State of Ohio.

Agencies/Canadajournal