Football recruit's fugitive father caught

• Tweet

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Danny Foster, the fugitive father of Alabama football recruit Reuben Foster, was arrested in Miami Friday after 16 years on the run, authorities said.

The elder Foster's ex-wife, Inita Paige, told AL.com she was "relieved and sad all at the same time" after learning federal marshals had caught Foster, who allegedly shot and wounded her and Reuben, then 18 months old.

"I was relieved because he got caught but I was sad because some of the pain and memories that our kids will have to go through about it," she told the news website by phone.

Her ex-husband had been indicted for the shooting in February 1996 and was arrested a month later in California. But nine months later, he escaped from jail, never to be seen or heard from again until his arrest.

"I didn't think they were going to catch him. I really didn't," Paige said. "Thank the Lord that they did. I just thought maybe it was just a [lost] hope.

Paige was treated for multiple gunshot wounds to the back but it wasn't until four days later doctors realized Reuben had been shot, too. His wound was obscured by a severe case of infantigo, Paige said.

She waited until Reuben was 5 before telling him what had happened but he never publicized it, AL.com said.

The highly touted high school linebacker posted the following message on his Twitter account Friday:

"Tears pooring!!! Never knew him but ain't nothin like a real father when you keep asking Foster side where your dad at and they lie about!!!"