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'Serial stowaway' arrested again at Chicago's O'Hare, Midway airports

By Doug G. Ware
Marilyn Hartman, known as "The Serial Stowaway," was arrested twice in Chicago this weekend after she allegedly tried to pass security at O'Hare International Airport and disrupted a flight out of Midway airport the day before. Photo: WGN-TV / AOL
Marilyn Hartman, known as "The Serial Stowaway," was arrested twice in Chicago this weekend after she allegedly tried to pass security at O'Hare International Airport and disrupted a flight out of Midway airport the day before. Photo: WGN-TV / AOL

CHICAGO, July 5 (UPI) -- A woman who has gained national notoriety -- and the nickname "The Serial Stowaway" -- was arrested yet again this weekend at each of Chicago's main airports.

According to Chicago police, Marilyn Hartman did not possess airfare on Saturday when she tried to board a flight at O'Hare International Airport, and was detained by airport security.

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The 63-year-old Hartman has made national headlines in recent months for attempting to board various flights without an accompanying ticket, authorities have said.

For Saturday's arrest, Hartman was charged with criminal trespassing and violating her bond on previous charges, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Just the day before, police say Hartman was again detained by security at Chicago's Midway airport -- even though she did have a valid ticket to New York City. However, officials said she created a disturbance on the aircraft and was escorted off -- earning her a reckless conduct charge.

The day before that, Hartman was released from jail after spending almost two months there for previous supposed stowaway attempts. Upon her release, she promised that she would never attempt to stow away again and would stay away from airports unless she had a ticket, the Tribune reported.

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"If I have a ticket, I can go," she said at the time. "If I have a ticket to ride. Sounds like a song. But if I have that, I can go."

Hartman had already faced charges from five separate incidents in April and May when officials say she ran into trouble again this weekend. She has also been arrested in Florida and Arizona.

Authorities aren't certain how many times Hartman has successfully made it onto a flight without being detected, but the Tribune report said she actually made it onto one plane in August and traveled from the San Francisco Bay Area to Los Angeles on a Southwest Airlines flight.

Hartman has reportedly said she enjoys being at airports because they are safer than being on the streets.

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