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Police: Prison Escapee Spent 27 Years Living In North Ga. Under Alias

Posted: 11:50 am EDT May 13, 2009Updated: 6:31 pm EDT May 13, 2009

Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta said Wednesday they have arrested a man in north Georgia who escaped from a Virginia prison in 1982.

Police arrested Richard Boucher, 56, of Eton in Murray County on federal unlawful flight charges stemming from his alleged 1982 escape from a Virginia Department of Corrections prison.

Boucher had been living under the alias of Eric Coleman in Eton for the past 27 years, according to Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones with the FBI.

Richard Boucher

Richard Boucher, 1982 mug shot

Officials also arrested his wife, Debbie Boucher, 53, who was utilizing the name of Debbie Coleman.

Boucher was serving a 10 year sentence for robbery at the time of his escape in 1982.

Police in Murray County charged Boucher with felon in possession of a firearm after allegedly finding a rifle in his home.

Boucher will await extradition proceedings in order to be returned to Virginia regarding escape related charges.

He is currently being held at the Whitfield County Detention Facility.

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