Ken Carpenter, a Lempster man accused of first-degree murder, has more than once waived his right to a speedy trial since his arrest in March 2005, but that doesn't mean he has been content to stay in jail. According to court documents, he has made numerous escape attempts at two different jails.

Carpenter is accused of killing Pen Meyer, 55, of Goshen and burning her body. The police believe Carpenter, who is married, was angry with Meyer for interfering in an affair he was having with her friend.

Carpenter's escape attempts have included hand-drawn maps, possible getaways to other countries and requests for help from inmates, according to court filings. They were detailed in exchanges between attorneys over whether the defense can depose, or interview, the lead prosecutor on the case, Senior Assistant Attorney General Will Delker. Delker had been contacted by another attorney about the escape plans and called corrections officials. The defense said he had become a material witness.

After his arrest more than two years ago, Carpenter was housed at the Sullivan County House of Corrections. In April 2005, corrections officers saw Carpenter testing the fence in the recreation area for weaknesses, a court filing said. A few months later, he held up a sign asking another inmate for help, made a gun-like motion, then tore up the sign and threw it down the toilet. The same day, he was caught smearing something on the security camera.

He told officials "he was not being serious," the filing said.

"However, the defendant did admit to corrections officers that he (had) drawn a map for a possible escape plan and had a spoon to help him escape," the state filing said.

In October 2005, he wrote friends asking that they have his motorcycle, a rain suit and a full-face helmet ready for him. Because of these attempts, corrections officials transferred Carpenter to the Merrimack County House of Corrections.

On Jan. 24, an inmate there told a corrections officer that Carpenter had asked for his help, the filing said. A defense filing said the inmate was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, a mostly white and powerful prison gang. That was what made Carpenter think the inmate "can be trusted and possibly help with an escape," the document said.

Two days later, an assistant U.S. attorney called Delker to tell him Carpenter had talked to another inmate about escaping and had asked about other countries.

Delker contacted the jail officials. The jail then searched Carpenter's cell and seized maps, pictures of possible disguises and other writing indicating an escape, the filing said.

In an affidavit, Delker said he later talked to federal defender Jeffrey Levin, who was representing the second inmate.

"Levin also informed me that Carpenter had told his client that a guy in a wheelchair committed the murder but that Carpenter had helped dispose of the victim's body," Delker said in the filing.

In late March, the defense requested to interview Delker. Delker disputed the idea that he had become a witness.

"At no point have I ever had direct contact with any inmate relating to the Carpenter case," he said.

The public court record contained no ruling on the issue.

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