Mid-Michigan’s fugitive mom is back in prison, and will be there until at least January. That’s when a hearing to have her drug sentence thrown out will continue in a Saginaw courtroom.
In a courtroom appearance on Wednesday, Susan Lefevre wore her prison uniform and cried as her family watched the proceedings. Her lawyer argued that her defense attorney in the original 1970’s case did a poor job defending her and that her punishment was too hard for a first time offender. She argued that her client’s prior clean record was never taken into account during the sentencing. However, Saginaw County Assistance Prosecutor Paul Fermin says Lefevre should still have to server her time.
1974
- Susan Lefevre was arrested in Saginaw for selling drugs to an undercover officer.
- She pleads guilty and hopes for a lenient sentence, but is sentenced to serve between 10 and 20 years in prison.
1976
- Lefevre escapes a mazimum security presion in Plymouth, Michigan by climbing over a barbed wire fence and was driven away in her grandfather’s car.
1985
- Susan Lefevre, who now goes by Marie, marries Alan Walsh. The couple lives with out incident and give birth to three children, 2 daughters and a son.
2007
- April - Lefevre is arrested in her suburban San Diego home. Her husband and children learn that Marie was Susan Lefevre and has a criminal past.
- May - Lefevre is extradited and returned to Michigan.
- July – Files motion in Saginaw County Court to fight original sentence.
- July – Family and friends create a website telling their story and asking for help in the fight to get Lefevre released from prison.
- August – Lefevre plead guilty to prison escape and receives probation.
- November – Gets court date
- December – Trial begins to argue original sentencing. Lefevre and her family hope for her release.
NBC25 spoke with the man who prosecuted Lefevre back in 1974. Former Saginaw County Prosecutor Brady Denton says at that time the policy was to issue stiff sentences for anyone delivering heroin. He says it didn’t matter the amount or the person’s background, that he had a responsibility to uphold the law. Now, more than 30-years later, the law has changed. "I'm not sure if it was as effective as we thought it would be. I've come to realize that the state Supreme Court has passed rules that consider people's backgrounds and consider the seriousness of the crime.” You can watch Brady Denton’s full interview here.
NBC25 will continue to follow this story as it progresses.
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