AWOL Suspect Caught After 45 Years

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - A man accused of going AWOL from the U.S. Air Force 45 years ago was arrested near his Ocala home on Tuesday by authorities from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

MacDill, the closest military installation to the arrest, said it was investigating the case and that the man would be detailed there until a pending court martial.

Linley Benson Lemburg, 65, had been living under an alias, William Michael Robertson, and military officials had asked the Sheriff's Office for help in locating him, the Ocala Star-Banner reported.

Deputies and military agents went to Lemburg's subdivision and detained him without incident as he was taking a morning walk about two blocks from his home, authorities said.

Lemburg was initially taken to the sheriff's headquarters, where his fingerprints were compared to prints taken when he enlisted. 

Military officials then took him to MacDill for further investigation.  The base released this statement on Wednesday:"

The MacDill AFB Office of Special Operations apprehended Linley Benson Lemburg (alias: William Michael Robertson) on March 21, on charges of desertion, which is a crime that falls under the UCMJ Article 86, Absence without leave. As the closest military installation to where Lemburg was found, MacDill AFB authorities are investigating the allegations associated with Mr. Lemburg's case, which is still under investigation.  At this time, he is being held by MacDill officials on base until the pending trial (AKA Courts Martial) no more investigative information can be released."

Lemburg first went absent without leave in 1972. Officials didn't immediately say where he had been stationed.




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