Carolina on his mind
1977 escapee who hid in B’klyn goes back to jail
THE 64-YEAR-OLD Brooklyn dad who hid in New York for nearly 40 years after escaping a North Carolina prison had a heartfelt sendoff Thursday before heading back south to finish his sentence.
Bobby Love was handed over to North Carolina authorities as his wife and kids were in Manhattan Supreme Court for his brief appearance.
“Bye, daddy. I love you,” his daughter, Jessica, said, walking alongside him and his escorts as he was led from the court.
His wife, Cheryl, and sons, Justin and Jordan, were also there to support him.
Love had notified officials through his attorney earlier this month that he was through fighting extradition, so arrangements were made for the handover.
Love, whose real name is Walter Miller, was transferred to the custody of North Carolina officers and was led from the court to a parked white transport Chevy parked in front of 100 Centre St.
Love, who still owes North Carolina about 10 years on his stiff sentence from a string of bank robberies in Greensboro in the early 1970s, is hoping for an early release or clemency.
He hopped a bus to New York after jumping out of the rear door of an inmate transport bus on its way to a road work site in Raleigh in 1977.
Love lived a law-abiding life since starting fresh with a new identity decades ago.
His family did not know his secret and was stunned to learn the truth when FBI agents and other officials banged on the door of their Brooklyn apartment about 6 a.m. Jan. 22 looking for a man named Miller.
They said they support him fully and hope he will be released and recognized for having rehabilitated himself.
“Of course that was hard, but we know we have to go through this process and through it all we still trust God,” Cheryl said after the tearful parting.