Florida Murderer and Prison Escapee Caught After 32 Years

After spending over three decades on the run Frederick Barrett, 60, who escaped from a Florida prison 32 years ago where he was serving a life sentence, was captured in Colorado on Wednesday.

Barrett who was serving a lifer at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford escaped in August 1979 after scaling three perimeter fences during a power outage, reports Reuters.

U.S. Marshall officers dressed as U.S. Forest service fighters approached Barrett in his cabin in Montrose County on the pretense of discussing fire safety with him. They then identified him by a tattoo of a cross and dot on his right hand and captured him. Officials said Barrett had been living in the remote mountainous area for 17 years under the alias Neil Richard Meltzer, added the report.

Barrett was convicted for murdering fellow traveling companion, Carl Ardolino, on the Florida Turnpike in February 1971. Barrett strangled Ardolino from behind and then he and another companion Michael Owensby, drowned him in a shallow ditch.

Investigators were looking for Barrett since 2009 following a new fugitive initiative in Florida that focused on long term prison escapees with violent histories, said Steve Davenport, a special agent supervisor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, stated the report.

In addition to escape charges Barrett also faces drug and gun charges. Marshalls found a marijuana grow house as well as five firearms on his property.

Barrett is being held at the Montrose County Jail and faces extradition proceedings to Florida. Barrett was one of Florida's most wanted fugitives and his case was even featured on "America's Most Wanted" show.