HARVEY, La. — According to WWL Louisiana's media partner Nola.com, the 52-year-old wife of captured murder suspect Leon Ruffin was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly aiding her husband during his weekend escape.
Leon Ruffin, 51, was recaptured at a New Orleans hotel earlier in the day after nearly two days at large. Ruffin escaped custody on Sunday while being transported from Ochsner's Meadowcrest facility back to the parish correctional center.
Ruffin was being treated at Ochsner for a possible seizure.
During the escape, Ruffin created a disturbance and used pepper spray to incapacitate the female deputy before driving off in her law enforcement vehicle.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office booked Shelita Ruffin of Westwego with conspiracy to commit aggravated escape and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a center.
She is being held without bail Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, the same Gretna facility where Leon Ruffin, 51, had been awaiting trial for second-degree murder.
This is an ongoing investigation and will be updated once further information is confirmed.
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