SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A woman arrested here in San Diego more than 30 years after escaping from a Michigan prison shared her story with Oprah Winfrey. Marie Walsh, previously known as Susan LeFevre, also spoke with News 8 about her fugitive past and her new future.
For over three decades, Susan Lefevre lived as fugitive Marie Walsh. She just shared her life on the lam with Oprah. Now she's telling us the rest of the story.
"It was hard on marriage. It's hard on everything," she said.
Walsh's husband stood by her side from day one, and although things are clearly different, he continues to be there for her.
As for her 3 kids, "I'm hoping they get through it. I knew it was a blow to them," she said.
You sense there is a bridge of trust that needs some repairs.
"Their lives, like mine at a young age, blew up. The life they thought they knew was very different, but that is life," Walsh said.
And what about her friends? Now that they know the truth, how are they reacting toward her?
"Everyone's been wonderful. Maybe there's those ones whispering behind my back, but they're always there and were probably there before anyways," Walsh said.
That said, Marie hasn't had much time for friends. She's been writing a book about her experiences called "A Tale of Two Lives".
"There's so many women in prison that shouldn't be there," Walsh said.
She plans to use part of the book's proceeds to help women in prison.
"I'm going to be working with re-entry with women leaving prison, and I'm interested in teens on the edge with drug abuse," she said.
Walsh says occasionally she gets recognized in public, but she's hoping that will end soon. She says this will be one of her last interviews.
"I like a quiet life," she said.
A quiet life where she's no longer looking over her shoulder, worried this day of freedom will be her last.
Walsh's book is available on Amazon.com.
