Larry Sells, the retired deputy prosecutor who convicted Sarah Jo Pender of two first-degree murders in 2002 and dubbed her the “female Charles Manson,” now questions whether she received a fair trial. Pender, convicted of orchestrating the killings of Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman, escaped an Indiana prison in 2008 and was on the run for four months before recapture. Her case is currently featured in the Hulu docuseries “Girl on the Run: The Hunt for America’s Most Wanted Woman,” which includes new interviews with Pender, investigators, and Sells himself.
Details of the Case and Conviction
Pender’s conviction stemmed from the 2000 murders committed by her then-boyfriend Richard Hull, who killed the victims at their shared Indianapolis home. Hull used a shotgun purchased by Pender and was sentenced to 75 years in prison. Prosecutors argued that Pender manipulated Hull into committing the murders and portrayed her as the dominant figure in their relationship. During the trial, a handwritten letter that appeared to be a confession from Pender was presented, though Hull later admitted it was fabricated. Additionally, testimony from a convicted sex offender who claimed Pender manipulated Hull is considered unreliable, but the jury relied on multiple pieces of testimony and circumstantial evidence.
Prosecutor’s Change of Perspective and New Documentary Insights
Sells has since expressed regret over how evidence was interpreted in Pender’s trial and now doubts her conviction. Producer Tom Pearson of the Hulu series noted that Sells is the only prosecutor he has encountered who regrets a murder case he prosecuted. The docuseries portrays contrasting views of Pender, showing supporters who find her charming and law enforcement officials who describe her as manipulative. Pender, now 46, is serving a 110-year sentence at the Indiana Women’s Prison and spent five years in solitary confinement after her conviction.
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