Reward Increased For Convicted Cop Killer [AUDIO]

Garden State officials have doubled the reward, from $1-2 million for information that leads to the capture of convicted murderer, Joanne Chesimard.

Forty years ago, Chesimard shot and killed a New Jersey State Police Trooper, execution style, on the Turnpike following a traffic stop.

She was convicted of the crime and sentenced to life behind bars, but she escaped from prison in 1979, and surfaced several years later in Cuba.

"It is our hope that increasing this reward and placing Joanne Chesimard on the FBI's Most Wanted List will bring greater opportunities for her capture and safe return to New Jersey, " said State Attorney General Jeff Chiesa during a news conference at FBI headquarters in Newark.

He stressed justice has no expiration date.

"Our resolve to capture Joanne Chesimard does not diminish with the passage of time. We hope that this augmented reward will spur action that will bring Joanne Chesimard back to face the justice she has evaded for far too long."

Special Agent in charge of the FBI in Jersey Aaron Ford pointed out the group Chesimard was a part of, the Black Liberation Army, was actively trying to intimidate the United States government in order to advance their political and social agenda, and they engaged in violent armed resistance against law enforcement officers who they viewed as soldiers of the government.

"They were responsible for several bombings, hijackings, hostage-taking and 32 violent armed confrontations with 16 homicides of police officers," said Ford. "Chesimard espouses a message of revolution and terrorism. She is a domestic terrorist who murdered a law enforcement officer, and we will continue to pursue justice no matter how long it takes."

"We encourage anyone, anywhere with information on her whereabouts to contact the FBI by calling 1-800- CALL-FBI. My message to her is, 'it's not too late to give yourself up - that is the right thing to do, it's the best thing to do - give yourself up, come to America and face justice.'"