Arlington man released from Mexican prison after 65-day ordeal
Published 8:22 pm Saturday, March 14, 2009
ARLINGTON — After 65 days in a Mexican prison, Edward Chrisman is finally back on American soil.
The 88-year-old Arlington man walked out of a prison in Mexicali on Saturday a free man.
It was sweet relief for the man’s family, who thought the World War II veteran wouldn’t survive the ordeal.
“We are ecstatic,” beamed Marix Saxton, Chrisman’s daughter who lives in Arlington. “I broke out crying when I found out. We just can’t wait to get down to him and grab him.”
Chrisman was released from prison this morning, but was held up at the border for five hours before he was allowed to cross to American soil. His family immediately checked him into a Yuma hospital, even though Chrisman had other priorities.
“The first thing he said was, ‘I want a big fat cheeseburger,’” Saxton said. “He wanted to go home and take a hot shower and go to sleep in his own bed.”
A Mexican judge approved Chrisman’s release nearly two weeks ago, but prison officials wouldn’t release him until paperwork made its way through the system.
His family was told the ruling means Chrisman will not be required to return to Mexico at some future date to address the allegations that put him behind bars in the first place.
The waiting was agony for the family, which has branches in Yuma and here. Chrisman appeared to develop pneumonia while being held.
The elder Chrisman was wintering in Yuma when he decided on Jan. 8 to take a quick trip across the border with his grandson.
The family said the pair were arrested after Gary Chrisman Jr. stopped at a convenience store for a soda. While there, the younger Chrisman asked a woman if he could take photos of her daughters. He’d been taking photos of Mexican culture all day with a new camera. The mother granted permission and he gave her $25. He snapped head shots of the two fully clothed girls and left the store. The woman and the girls called police soon after, alleging that he’d asked to photograph the girls in more explicit poses.
Edward Chrisman never went into the store.
Chrisman’s grandson remains in custody awaiting a trial.
