Ohio woman held hostage by inmate settles suit

COLUMBUS (AP) — An Ohio woman held hostage by an escaped inmate has settled her lawsuit with a private-prison company and two guards.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the attorney for Karen and John Zappitelli says the suburban Columbus couple reached a confidential settlement Tuesday with Corrections Corporation of America and the guards.

Karen Zappitelli spent three hours as a hostage of fugitive inmate Billy Jack Fitzmorris in April 2007. He broke into her husband’s business after overpowering the guards at a Youngstown hospital and driving to central Ohio.

The settlement was reached amid a jury trial on the suit in Columbus. Zappitelli says she has been plagued by anxiety and nightmares.

A message was left Tuesday for the Nashville, Tenn.-based prison company. CCA also operates a prison facility in Youngstown.