Escaped Prisoner Christine Abel Caught in Green Bay: Police

RACINE COUNTY, WI — A woman who turned up missing during a prison headcount in Racine County has been caught by police in Green Bay, authorities say.

The Racine County Sheriff's office reported initially that Christine Abel, 36, managed to escape from the Ellsworth Community Womens' Prison, stole a pickup truck and was wanted by authorities.

The night she escaped, Racine County Sheriff's office says that they learned about a burglary to a home in the 21000 block of Church Road in the Town of Dover. Authorities said that the homeowners had left their residence for about an hour. When they came back, they found their home had been entered and their 2007 black GM Sierra pickup truck with a registration plate of MZ1-698 was stolen.

About an hour after the truck was stolen, authorities learned of an inmate escape from Ellsworth Correctional Facility located at 21425 Spring St, in the Town of Dover. The 36-year-old minimum security inmate, later identified as Abel, turned up missing during a head count.

Later in the week, that missing pickup truck turned up in the Green Bay area. After nearly a week on the run, Abel was arrested by police in Green Bay on April 25 along the 1800 block of Badger St.

Speaking about the arrest, Green Bay police said that Abel initially tried to hide herself, and tried changing her appearance, including changing her hair color.

Abel will be returned to Racine County later this week.

“When criminals come to Green Bay, we will spare no resource, staff or equipment to catch them and bring them to justice. Thank you to everyone that spent hours investigating, locating, and apprehending Ms. Abel. We will forever be committed to ridding the community of criminals and disorder," says Police Chief Andrew Smith said in a prepared statement.

At a glance:

Wanted Inmate: 36-year- old Christine Abel
Described as five feet tall, 110 pounds, brown hair with blue eyes.

Authorities reported Abel is from the Brown County area and has a history of burglary. She was currently serving a sentence to be released on April 28, 2020.

Racine County Sheriff Photo