For nearly two decades, Marilyn Hartman managed to fly around the world without a ticket.
She’s known as America’s Serial Stowaway.
She’s flown to Jacksonville, Seattle, Phoenix, Philly, Atlanta, Minneapolis, San Francisco, London, more than two dozen places in all.
Hartman is currently free awaiting sentencing for her latest stowaway incident when she tried to hitch another ride this week.
“...her GPS ankle bracelet went off at about noon on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Cook County Sheriff's Office.
The alarm indicated Hartman was outside "the residential facility where she" had been mandated to stay, the statement said. After Hartman didn't pick up her phone, authorities said they spotted the ankle bracelet headed toward O’Hare.
She arrived at Terminal 1 at about 1:38 p.m. CT and an "alarm siren was activated on Hartman’s device" leading to her arrest by Chicago police before she could "enter any secure areas," the sheriff said.
Hartman will be charged with felony escape for Tuesday's journey to O'Hare, the sheriff said. She was still in custody on Wednesday, held without bail until her next court appearance, scheduled for Thursday, according to jail records.”
News of her arrest comes just days after CBS-Chicago did an in-depth interview with Hartman where she revealed her struggles with mental health.
She says “I’m bipolar. And this is something I’ve rejected for years.”
How has she been able to do it?
She says she basically blends in with another passenger, saying “I have never been able to board a plane by myself. I was always let through.I mean I was able to go through the security line without a boarding pass.”
Aviation security expert Jeff Price says:
“...for her to be able to repeat that over and over, that is just mind boggling...They literally should have a curriculum designed around how she’s able to get through security and that should be taught to every Transportation Security Officer out there.”