LeFevre committed other offenses during her time on the lam. She used a phony Social Security number for a number of years, which meant she had to leave jobs when employers started to ask questions. Three years ago, the state of California would not renew her driver's license because it could not confirm her Social Security number. In the post-Sept. 11 world, a number of checks were put into place that may have eventually led to the discovery of LeFevre's true identity.

Some argue that LeFevre has paid her debt to society. She lived under the radar and was under constant anxiety over being caught. She could not visit her Michigan relatives on holidays or other special occasions. She missed her mother's funeral but reportedly visited her before she died.

She also trained as a hospice volunteer, gave her time to the local Boys & Girls Clubs and Common Cause, a group that promotes government ethics.

Has she served a sufficient penance?

Worse yet will be attempting to explain her predicament to her husband and children. Her husband, Adam Walsh, said in a statement, "I've known my wife, Marie, for over 23 years, and she is a person of the highest integrity."

If that was the case, why didn't "Marie" turn herself in?

Then, in my mind, extending mercy would be a slam dunk because she would have demonstrated remorse. That would have been an entirely different turn of events than being picked up because law enforcement finally connected the dots.

---

Marjorie Cortez, who is grateful that she does not have to determine LeFevre's fate, is a Deseret News editorial writer. E-mail her at marjorie@desnews.com.