New Jersey Murderer Captured In Portugal 41 Years After Dramatic Escape
It was 41 years ago that convicted murderer George Wright helped hijack a plane bound for Miami, took it to Algeria and vanished. Authorities announced today they've found him hiding out in a Portuguese resort town under the name Jose Luis Jorge Dos Santos.
Wright, a WWII veteran and Bronze Star recipient, shot and killed the owner of a gas station in New Jersey in 1962 and was sentenced to 15-30 years in prison. He escaped, then hid out for a while in Detroit with the Black Liberation Army. Eventually, he and some buddies hijacked a Delta flight bound for Miami and exchanged some kids they were holding hostage for $1 million and safe passage to Algeria.
Some of Wright's success in evading capture must have been the fact that he chose Portugal as his hideout. Not exactly a blissful tropical island! Even Boston crime boss Whitey Bulger had the good sense to spend his years on the lam in sunny Santa Monica. Wright will now be sent back to prison to serve the rest of his sentence.
