A lifetime later, Arkansas seeks return of convicted killer who fled to Michigan

In a April 26, 2013 photo, Lester Stiggers is interviewed in Warren, Mich., by the Associated Press. Stiggers is a wanted man _ except in Michigan. Since he fled prison in 1970, the convicted killer has spent most of his life a free man in the Detroit area, thanks to a progressive governor who refused to send him back to Arkansas. Much like the U.S. gives foreign refugees asylum from threats in their homeland, that governor, William Milliken, gave Stiggers asylum from Arkansas. The state of Arkansas has renewed its efforts to bring him back to face justice. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (The Associated Press)

In an photo April 26, 2013 photo, Lester Stiggers holds his companion's granddaughter during an interview by the Associated Press in Warren, Mich.. Stiggers is a wanted man _ except in Michigan. Since he fled prison in 1970, the convicted killer has spent most of his life a free man in the Detroit area, thanks to a progressive governor who refused to send him back to Arkansas. Much like the U.S. gives foreign refugees asylum from threats in their homeland, that governor, William Milliken, gave Stiggers asylum from Arkansas. The state of Arkansas has renewed its efforts to bring him back to face justice. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (The Associated Press)

In an photo April 26, 2013 photo, Lester Stiggers is interviewed by the Associated Press in Warren, Mich. Stiggers is a wanted man _ except in Michigan. Since he fled prison in 1970, the convicted killer has spent most of his life a free man in the Detroit area, thanks to a progressive governor who refused to send him back to Arkansas. Much like the U.S. gives foreign refugees asylum from threats in their homeland, that governor, William Milliken, gave Stiggers asylum from Arkansas. The state of Arkansas has renewed its efforts to bring him back to face justice. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) (The Associated Press)

Lester Stiggers has been a wanted man for 43 years, but he hasn't been hiding.

Since the convicted murderer fled prison in Arkansas in 1970, he has been a quirk of justice, living openly in Michigan while considered a fugitive elsewhere.

But Stiggers' time as a free man may be coming to an end.

Arkansas has abruptly renewed its efforts to bring him back to prison where he was sentenced to his life. And Michigan is considering it. Four decades ago, Michigan's then-governor, William Milliken, gave Stiggers asylum after concluding he had been treated unjustly in Arkansas. But the law covering extraditions has changed since then.

Stiggers, who is 63, says he's in ailing health and can't believe Arkansas would still want him back.