Sarah Pender became a notorious figure in the early 2000s, shocking the public with her involvement in a crime that made headlines across the United States of America. Known as the “female Charles Manson” by prosecutors, her case took several unexpected turns, keeping authorities and the public on edge. Pender’s calculated nature, combined with her chilling ability to manipulate those around her, further increased her infamy.
But how did a seemingly ordinary woman become linked to such a heinous crime? And what led to her eventual capture? Read this piece to find out.
Who is Sarah Pender?

Sarah Pender is an American woman convicted of a notorious double murder in 2000. She and her then-boyfriend, Richard Hull, lived with two roommates, Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman, in a house in Indianapolis. Pender was accused of planning the murder of both roommates, while Hull was the one who pulled the trigger. The motive was said to be drug-related disputes. Pender’s case drew attention not only because of the murders but also for her daring escape from an Indiana prison in 2008, though she was recaptured after four months.
Pender has consistently maintained her innocence, arguing that Hull acted alone and that her involvement was exaggerated. Despite her claims, she was sentenced to 110 years in prison for her role in the crime.
Her case has been the subject of much public intrigue, with television shows and documentaries covering her story.
ALSO READ: Larry Hoover: Man who shaped gang culture in Chicago
Sarah Pender crime

Pender’s crime story is both disturbing and complex, filled with manipulation, deception and brutal violence. It began in October 2000, when Pender, then 21, was living in a small house in Indianapolis with her boyfriend, Richard Hull, and two roommates, Andrew Cataldi and Tricia Nordman. The house was filled with tension, mainly due to drug-related activities and financial disputes. Both Cataldi and Nordman had a history of drug use and drug dealing, which only worsened the already volatile atmosphere in their home. Pender, frustrated with the situation, began to view her roommates as a burden and a threat to her relationship with Hull.
According to prosecutors, Pender manipulated Hull, convincing him to carry out her dark plan to get rid of Cataldi and Nordman. On the evening of October 24, 2000, Pender bought ammunition for Hull’s shotgun, a key piece of evidence that would later tie her to the crime. That night, Hull shot both Cataldi and Nordman in their sleep. The murders were brutal: Cataldi was shot point-blank in the chest, while Nordman was killed moments later as she tried to flee.
After the murders, Pender helped Hull clean up the crime scene. The bodies were stuffed into a large trunk, which the couple transported to a nearby dumpster behind an elementary school. Pender’s cold detachment from the grisly scene was one of the many factors that would later make her actions so infamous.
In the aftermath, Pender and Hull attempted to cover their tracks, with Pender initially claiming ignorance of Hull’s actions. But investigators soon pieced together the truth, discovering Pender’s involvement through phone records and letters exchanged between her and Hull while she was in prison. These communications revealed that Pender had not only been aware of the murders but had also been the mastermind behind them.
Despite her claims of innocence, Pender was sentenced to 110 years in prison. The prosecution painted her as a manipulative woman who had used Hull as a pawn to carry out her murderous plan. While Hull admitted to pulling the trigger, Pender’s involvement in the planning, execution and cover-up made her equally culpable in the eyes of the law.
Pender’s case became even more notorious when she escaped from prison in 2008, with the help of a prison guard and a former cellmate. Her escape sparked a nationwide manhunt, making her one of America’s most wanted fugitives. She was eventually recaptured four months later in Chicago, where she had been living under an assumed identity. Her ability to manipulate those around her — both in and out of prison — cemented her reputation as the “female Charles Manson” in the media.
ALSO READ: Connor Bird: Larry Bird’s son who got in hot water after dispute with ex-girlfriend
What happened to Sarah Pender?

After Pender was arrested for the murders of her roommates, her life became a story of twists and turns. Pender was convicted in 2002 for masterminding the killing of Cataldi and Nordman, even though it was her boyfriend, Hull, who physically shot them. Pender claimed she was innocent and that Hull acted alone, but evidence, including the purchase of the murder weapon’s ammunition, showed she was deeply involved.
Following her conviction, Pender was sentenced to 110 years in prison. At first, she tried to appeal her conviction, insisting she had been wrongfully accused and blamed Hull for everything. However, the courts did not find her arguments convincing and her attempts to overturn her sentence were rejected.
Then, in 2008, Pender managed to pull off a stunning escape from the Rockville Correctional Facility in Indiana. With the help of a prison guard, Scott Spitler, and her ex-cellmate, Jamie Long, Pender walked right out of the prison using a forged ID badge. Spitler was later arrested for his role in the escape, revealing how he had been manipulated by Pender into helping her.
Pender’s escape sparked a nationwide manhunt that lasted for four months. During that time, she assumed a new identity and managed to avoid capture while living in Chicago. Her ability to stay under the radar during this period only further emphasised her cunning and manipulation skills. However, her freedom was short-lived as she was recaptured in December 2008 at a house in Chicago where she had been staying with a friend.
Her recapture brought her even more notoriety and she was sent back to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence, with additional time for the escape.
Sarah Pender family
Pender’s family background is largely private, with little detailed public information available about her immediate family. However, it is known that she grew up in Indiana.
During her trial and subsequent incarceration, her family did not appear in the media spotlight and their involvement in her life after her arrest remains relatively unknown to the public.
Sarah Pender age
Pender was born on May 29, 1979. She is 45 years old as of 2024.
Sarah Pender now

Sarah Pender is currently serving a prison sentence at the Rockville Correctional Facility in Indiana. After being recaptured following her escape in 2008, she remains incarcerated with no updates suggesting any changes to her legal status.
ALSO READ: Robert Pickton: Pig farmer who became a serial killer