Court Hearing Held For 'Serial Stowaway' In Florida
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A court hearing was held Tuesday in Florida for a woman police say flew to Jacksonville from the Twin Cities without a ticket.
Marilyn Hartman, 63, was arrested Sunday in after she checked into a hotel under another person's name.
Police in Florida refer to Hartman as a "serial stowaway."
Hartman told police she boarded a plan in Minnesota without a ticket and made it to Jacksonville without any issues
At the airport in Jacksonville, a shuttle driver for an upscale hotel asked her if she was a specific guest.
Hartman allegedly said yes, and then used that guest's name to check in to the property valued at over $300 a night.
Authorities said Hartman left the room when the real guest arrived at the hotel. They said they found her the next day staying in a room being renovated.
Deputy Mark Murphy asked Hartman how she got to Jacksonville.
"She was very lucid as to what she was talking about. And I'm just wondering how you've done this before and that's just when she wouldn't tell me," Murphy said. "I said, 'So somebody bought you a ticket and gave you the ticket to come?' and she said, 'Nope. I never even had a ticket.'"
Hartman was arrested at least six times in 2014 for trying board flights.
Just last year she served jail time in California.
"It was clearly wrong on my part and I certainly don't want to do it again, because, um, I certainly don't want to do any jail time," Hartman said.
She now faces felony fraud and trespassing charges in Jacksonville. Her bond is set at more than $50,000.
Authorities are trying to verify if she really got on a plane without a ticket, and if so, how.
All the TSA will say is "TSA officials are investigating."
It's important to note that the TSA typically handles security inside an airport, while the local and airport police handle perimeter security.
