Washington, D. C.  (Oct. 21, 2008) – Sarah Pender was behind bars serving a 110-year sentence before she escaped in August from the Rockville Correctional Facility in Indiana. Today, she is the most wanted woman in America after being added to the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list.

Pender, 29, was convicted in 2002 on two counts of murder. In 2000, Pender and her boyfriend purchased a shotgun and returned to their residence where they shot their two roommates. After killing the roommates, Pender and her boyfriend disposed of the bodies in a trash dumpster.

While serving her sentence, prison authorities believe Pender befriended a correctional officer, who allegedly helped her escape. Prison security footage on the day she escaped shows Pender walking toward a prison exit at the same time the guard drove into the facility to get gasoline. Authorities believe the guard hid her in the vehicle and drove her off the prison grounds where she met up with her get-away driver.

“Sarah Pender is a dangerous fugitive and poses a threat to anyone she comes in contact with,” said Director John F. Clark of the United States Marshals Service. “Pender’s addition as a 15 Most Wanted fugitive underscores our commitment to use all of our available resources to bring her to justice.”

The day after the escape, the Indiana Department of Corrections asked the Southern Indiana U.S. Marshals Task Force to take over the hunt for Pender. U.S. Marshals tracked down the get-away driver, Jamie Long, and arrested her shortly after the escape. Long was convicted in October and sentenced to seven years for her role in the escape. The corrections officer accused of aiding Pender’s escape is currently awaiting trial, facing charges for assisting in an escape, a Class C felony and trafficking an inmate, a class A misdemeanor.

Pender is a 29-year-old white female, with brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. She has two distinguishing tattoos: a butterfly on her left breast and a blue and red target figure on her right buttock.

A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading directly to her arrest. If you have information about Sarah Pender’s whereabouts, immediately contact your nearest U.S. Marshals office or call the Marshals 24-hour hotline at 1-800-336-0102.