Prison inmate captured after 40 years on the run

A prison inmate who escaped from a work crew in South Carolina in 1979 was captured in Delaware on New Year’s Day, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Jose Chico Romero, 64, was living under an assumed name when he showed an ID to a police officer in Dover. He was processed and released under the name of Arnaldo Figueroa but his fingerprints came back as a match for Romero and he was rearrested on New Year’s Day.

He has been charged with public intoxication, loitering, trespassing, forgery, criminal impersonation and being an out-of-state fugitive. He will be extradited back to South Carolina.

Romero had about seven years remaining on an 18-year armed robbery sentence when he escaped on Dec. 13, 1979. After he is returned to the state he will serve the remainder of his original sentence as well as any time added for an escape conviction, likely between 10 and 15 years.

Related: Escaped inmate arrested sneaking into prison with food, booze