ATLANTA — A man who spent decades on the run is set to get out of prison on parole.
Willie Lee Austin built a life and a family before he was caught in August after 34 years on the run.
A judge sentenced Austin to 15 years in 1977 for a 1974 armed robbery he claimed he didn’t do. But in 1981 he walked off from a Christmas furlough to help a woman in an abusive situation and took an assumed name in Florida.
He built a furniture business, had a family and gave to charity.
Now, barring unforeseen circumstances, Austin will leave a Georgia prison bound for Florida with the blessing of authorities.
“I been praying for this day,” Austin told Channel 2’s Mark Winne by phone Tuesday. “Thanks to my attorney, God, for giving me a second chance in life.”
Steve Hayes, spokesman for the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, says the board has decided to parole Austin subject to no new charges surfacing in the meantime.
Hayes says a parole board investigation turned up no evidence Austin had gotten in any criminal trouble since he walked away in 1981.
“Anytime a board decision to parole is granted, it is a tentative decision based upon that final release date being set,” Hayes said.
In Austin's case, scheduling the release could take longer if he wants to return to Florida where he had been living.
“First time I’ve been free in 40 years. It’s a long time,” Austin said.
Lawyer Sara Becker, working the case with Manny Arora, says they are both extremely pleased the parole board focused on his good record the last 34 years instead of "the acts of his distant past."
Austin said he'd like to thank the Board of Pardons and Paroles for giving him a second chance in life.
He told Winne, “I’m gonna make good on it.”
WSBTV
