Geraldine Lynch, Lance Battreal’s mother, said her son escaped from the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City to see his family.
Story Created:
Jul 21, 2009 at 5:39 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jul 24, 2009 at 11:56 AM EDT
SPENCER CO — Lance Battreal’s mother said her son escaped from the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City because he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer, and he escaped to see her.
Geraldine Lynch said she and her husband are too sick and too poor to visit Battreal at the Michigan City prison. She also said he promised her he would do the right thing.
“He’s my son. I don’t want nothing to hurt him,” said Lynch, as she fought back tears Tuesday afternoon.
She said just a day before, around 3 p.m., her son showed up at her Spencer County home in Southern Indiana.
“He was so sore,” she recalled, “because he had walked all the way from Michigan here."
Lynch also said her son was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer for the second time, after spending a couple years in remission.
“He didn’t have much to lose, being sick like that. He knew he would go back to prison,” she said.
But from Grand Beach Tuesday, to Michigan City to Northwest Kentucky, Battreal’s capture was welcome news.
“It’s been in the back of my mind, so it’s good to hear,” said Kyle Liebentritt, a Grand Beach vacationer.
“I think it puts everybody at ease,” said Michigan City resident Marshall A. Cowan.
Detectives in Daviess County, Ky. had been in contact with two of Battreal’s rape victims from the 1980s.
“Both of [the victims] have been very conscious in their moves and actions the last week since this guy escaped,” said Daviess Co. Detective Bill Thompson. “They were both relieved and joyful to hear he was back in custody.”
U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Shannon Robinson told WSBT federal authorities characterized Battreal as ‘the worst of the worst when it comes to criminals.’
Robinson wouldn’t get specific about how investigators knew Battreal was at his parents' home. She would only say it happened through their investigation and tips from the public.
“We had to assume that he could possibly be [there],” she explained. “And truth be told, the investigation always leads you to examine family members.”
Lynch said she hoped nobody would blame her for anything she did while spending time with her fugitive son.
Robinson said any formal charges would come from the state.
Meanwhile, investigators continued their intensive search for the third and final inmate still at large — Mark Booher. Authorities questioned Battreal Tuesday to see if he knew where his fellow escapee could be hiding.
The third and final capture can’t happen soon enough for those following and investigating the prison break.
“Hopefully he’s out of town,” said Liebentritt.
“We aren’t resting until Mr. Booher is back in custody,” Robinson told WSBT.
Robinson also said the U.S. Marshals Service is devoting all of its resources to tracking him down.
