Convicted Murderer Escaped Prison 50 Years Ago
He attempted to rape a 14-year-old. When she fought back, he killed her.
It is shocking to know that prison inmates had such freedom in the old days.
Lester Eubanks should be in prison right now. He, instead, walked away from an inmate program 50 years ago and hasn't been seen since. By all appearances, he lived a normal life during this time. He worked, dated women, and hung out with friends. He maintained contact with his dad, Mose, until his death. He even attended his funeral. Why did Eubanks go to prison, and how did he elude authorities for so long?
Murder While on Bond
Eubanks had two sex crimes on his record. He was out on bond on one of those charges in November 1965 when he encountered 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener. The teen and her 12-year-old sister, Brenda, were doing laundry at the laundromat.
Mary Ellen realized she needed more quarters for the dryer. The laundromat did not have change, so she decided to walk to one nearby. She instructed Brenda to wait for her; she'd be right back.
More than two hours passed, but Mary Ellen never returned to the laundromat.
Eubanks saw Mary Ellen from his house and attacked her. He dragged her behind a house and attempted to rape her, but she fought back. Sadly, she was no match for the much larger, older man. Enraged by her resistance. Eubanks shot her twice in the stomach. He ran back to his house, cleaned himself up, and changed clothes. He walked back to Mary Ellen, expecting her to be dead. She was still breathing. He grabbed a brick and used it to bash in the defenseless teenager’s face. The impact crushed her skull. She still had quarters in her hand.
Police found her body about two hours after the murder.
Eubanks yet again failed to cover his tracks well; police arrested him the next day. He confessed to murdering Mary Ellen and provided a full account of the crime.
Eubanks Sentenced to Death, Commuted Two Days Before Execution
Lester again confessed to killing Mary Ellen during his 1966 trial. He did not apologize nor show any remorse for his actions. He received a death sentence in the state's electric chair. He was transported to the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbia.
Two days before he was to die, the state commuted his sentence to life in prison. It was the second time Eubank narrowly escaped death.
Honor Inmate Escaped Custody
He was a model inmate who participated in prison painting and helped fellow inmates. He eventually enrolled in an “honor inmate” program. Inmates in the program earned special privileges, including unsupervised time outside the prison.
Am I the only one who thinks allowing violent inmates this amount of freedom is ridiculous? Sure, it was the 70s, sure, but why did the system think this was a good idea?
Eubanks always received visits from his family. The number of visits increased in the months leading up to December 1973.
On December 7, officers dropped off the inmates at the Great Southern Shopping Mall. They were there to shop for Christmas. Officers gave the inmates a return time and headed back to the prison.
The men stayed together for a short time, but soon parted ways.
When the time came, correctional officers returned to pick up the inmates. Two men returned; Eubanks did not. The officers assumed he was running late, but soon realized he had gotten away.
Authorities issued a federal warrant for his arrest.
Eubanks Remains At-Large
Authorities removed the warrant from the federal database, inadvertently, of course. This mistake allowed Eubanks to live his life. Authorities reissued the warrant when they realized what happened.
In 1994, America's Most Wanted aired Eubanks story. Kay saw the episode and contacted authorities. She filled them in on some of the details of Eubanks life over the previous 50 years.
Eubanks lived with her in Los Angeles for many years. She knew him as Victor Young. He worked a couple of jobs, one at a factory and as a janitor at a hospital. Kay described Eubanks as a bully, but she couldn't get away from him. She finally lied and told him authorities were on his track. He left her home.
Euban had kept in touch with his dad over the years. He returned to Ohio on three occasions to attend relatives' funerals. Those funerals included his father's, Mose Eubanks, in 2012.
He lived in Alabama around 2003. Police say he worked as a janitor while living in the state.
U.S. Marshals Service Most Wanted
In 2018, the U.S. Marshals Service added Eubanks to its 15 Most Wanted Fugitives list. There is a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to his capture. In a 2019 documentary, the U.S. Marshals Service said they believe he is still living in the Los Angeles area.
Sources:
https://www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/fugitive-apprehension/15-most-wanted-fugitive/lester-eubanks
https://abc7.com/post/lester-eubanks-manhunt-photos-mary-ellen-deener/10451354/
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