Convicted killer arrested after 56 years on the run

Frank Freshwaters (79) spent time in Shawshank Prison before escaping from prison farm in 1959

A combo handout picture released by the Brevard County Sheriff shows fugitive Frank Freshwater who escaped from an Ohio prison in 1959 and was arrested in Melbourne, Florida, 5th May 2015. Photograph: Brevard County Sheriff
A combo handout picture released by the Brevard County Sheriff shows fugitive Frank Freshwater who escaped from an Ohio prison in 1959 and was arrested in Melbourne, Florida, 5th May 2015. Photograph: Brevard County Sheriff

A convicted killer who ecaped from a prison farm in Ohio in 1959 has been rearrested after spending 56 years on the run.

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.

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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.