Published: December 01, 2006 07:18 am      

Loose dogs reveal loose inmate in Godley family’s home

A Godley woman who escaped from police in Mansfield tried to keep a low profile while she was on the lam. But a family member’s slip of the tongue and two misbehaving dogs blew her cover to Godley police.

At about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of East Godley Avenue in Godley officers arrested Ann Marie Kelley, 37, of Godley for felony escape from custody according to the Godley Police Department. Kelley had been arrested Nov. 16 in Fort Worth on a felony drug charge and was being housed at the Mansfield jail prior to her escape.

Kelley made her escape when a jail employee mistook her for another inmate with the same last name who was scheduled to be released. Kelley forged the name of the other subject and took possession of her property and left.

Godley police officer Gary Cashman said Kelley’s escape ended as a result of an animal control call concerning two dogs running loose. Cashman said prior to the call he had been briefed about the Mansfield escape and knew Kelley was related to the homeowner involved in the animal control call.

“I made contact with the owner, who I knew,” Cashman said. “And I knew [Kelley] was her sister-in-law.”

He advised the woman to keep her dogs inside her house, at which point she claimed one was already inside.

“That’s when one of the kids said, ‘Aunt Ann let [the dog] in before you got home mom,’” Cashman said.

It was then he knew Kelley was in the house.

Without incident Cashman apprehended Kelley and escorted her to his patrol car, arrested her and took her to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Kelley was later released to Mansfield police.

When Kelly was arrested, she was still in possession of the stolen property. Kelley faces the escape charge and possibly a theft charge.

Cashman said Kelley had been staying at various houses since her escape last week. He said no charges will be made against the owner of the house.



Kyle P. Whitecotton can be reached at

817-645-2441, ext. 2336, or reporter2@trcle.com.