The $80,000 Chase: A Bounty Hunter's Tale from Louisiana

Ever wonder what happens when someone skips bail? Martha Chase, a seasoned bail bonds lady pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of fugitive recovery during this revealing conversation.

Martha shares the harrowing tale of an $80,000 bond gone wrong when a county clerk improperly unsecured her defendant's bond without judicial authorization. What followed was a cross-country pursuit from North Carolina to Lafayette, Louisiana, where Martha and her team tracked down the fugitive couple who had no apparent connections to the area. The story takes a divine turn when a Facebook post leads to an unexpected phone call that breaks the case wide open.

The episode offers rare insights into the mechanics of fugitive recovery operations, from coordinating multiple agents for simultaneous apprehension to the challenges of transporting defendants back across state lines on commercial flights. Martha doesn't hold back when discussing the frustrations of working with jail systems that sometimes seem to work against bail agents, leaving them holding financial responsibility when procedures aren't followed correctly.

Beyond the tactical aspects, Martha touches on the unique challenges women face in the bail enforcement industry and how she's earned respect in a male-dominated field. Her story of recovering not just the defendants but also their dog – ironically named "Opie" (short for opium) – adds a surprising layer of humanity to this high-stakes profession.

Whether you're fascinated by the legal system, interested in the realities behind reality TV shows about bounty hunters, or simply enjoy compelling stories about justice being served, this episode delivers an unfiltered look at the people who ensure that when the system fails, someone is still accountable for bringing fugitives to justice.

Transcript

Introducing the Bail Recovery World

Speaker 1 0:04

When people are released from jail, they have the responsibility to appear in court, but some of these people choose to go on the run.

Speaker 2 0:13

They go back home to mommy.

Speaker 1 0:15

And that is when these guys come into the picture. So sit back and listen to the Off the Hook podcast with Chad and Rob Very fine people on both sides. These are real stories, but the names have been changed.

Speaker 3 0:36

All right, we're back.

Speaker 2 0:37

What's up? We're back again from the NCBAA conference and I'm Rob, I'm Chad, what's up?

Speaker 3 0:44

And we have another guest.

Speaker 4 0:46

Martha Chase, the one and only.

Speaker 2 0:49

Boss.

Speaker 4 0:49

Lady Bell Bonds.

Speaker 2 0:50

Boss Lady Bell Bonds, don't you have a place in?

Speaker 4 0:53

Jacksonville. Now I do. I have an office right in the front of the Sheriff's Department over in Onslow.

Speaker 3 1:01

Right next to the coffee place. I was in Jacksonville the other day, it's on the corner.

Speaker 4 1:07

It's a taboo spot. Everybody seems to think.

Speaker 3 1:10

Well, you've got a lot of traffic going by, so it's great advertising.

Speaker 2 1:13

I do. It works out. So, being here at the NCBAA conference, is this your first?

Speaker 4 1:22

time here. This is my second.

Speaker 2 1:23

Your second time here, okay, so how are you enjoying it so far?

Speaker 4 1:28

I think it's doing well. I think it's all right. I think it's going to turn out. I think we've got some really well-spoken people speaking here today and I think the need for the camaraderie is important. The need for the camaraderie is important. I think the people that are in legislation are doing a good job. I like to speak with John Cable and Johnny Maynard today we had that interview with him earlier. Oh, he's great. I think he's a smart man.

Speaker 3 1:58

Well, he kind of diffuses the fear that a lot of bondsmen have when you say Department of Insurance bondsmen tighten up.

Speaker 2 2:05

I still don't want him knocking at my door.

Speaker 3 2:07

Of course not. No one does. He said he was going to come visit our office. I'm like social call, right, yeah, let's just go have lunch. That's about it, away from our office.

Speaker 4 2:17

Lunch is on me, John.

Speaker 2 2:20

Yeah, so you know, what we're all about on this podcast is telling stories, and we have told so many, and over a year now we've been doing this for over a year now.

Speaker 3 2:31

We do one a week and we've done over 52 of them that we released, so we're over a year.

Speaker 2 2:36

Yeah, we're over a year now, so it's been going pretty well.

Speaker 4 2:39

I'm proud of you guys. Y'all have done a fantastic job of telling our story. And I think it's important that the public gets to know who we are personally, not just. If you run from us, then you know then you have us on your ass.

Speaker 2 2:53

You know, am I allowed to say that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 2:57

You said it. Well, that's privately funded. Chasing ass money.

Speaker 4 3:01

It is, it is and it costs a lot of money.

Speaker 2 3:06

It was really nice. Earlier I didn't know this was going to happen me or Chad but Randy called us up to the front and had us speak a little bit about the podcast, which was pretty cool, and then he bragged on us about it because we just caught one for him. He got put in jail yesterday morning in Detroit, michigan.

Speaker 4 3:23

Very good, y'all went to Detroit. Well, we outsourced this, that's okay.

Speaker 3 3:28

But we kind of worked on it.

Speaker 4 3:30

There's an assignment and it gets accomplished. Job well done.

Speaker 3 3:33

We ended up saving him money. That's all that matters. Yeah, we're not looking.

Speaker 2 3:38

He could have paid extra $1,500 to $2,000 for us to go do it, but I decided you know, I was like Chad, what do you think? And Chad was like I think this is the best way to do it that way. You know, it helps the bondsman, helps Randy out.

Speaker 4 3:52

It's more cost effective. Yeah, of course.

Speaker 2 3:54

So we did it the right way.

Speaker 3 3:55

But you know, and all these years, that we've been hunting people we've made all these connections throughout the US, yeah, and I've stayed in tight with them since then, and that's why we're at this conference. I mean to see you and other bondsmen so we can pick up the phone and say, hey, we've got a problem, can you?

Speaker 2 4:14

help us out. You've got a problem? Call us. I didn't know, though, that Mr Cable was going to sit down and do a podcast with us. I didn't know he was so funny.

Speaker 3 4:21

Great, he's actually very funny. He is a very comical man.

Speaker 4 4:25

I've had a dinner with him. He is very, very approachable yeah, he is nothing like anybody.

Speaker 3 4:31

Well, the villain, he's not the villain he's actually huge on education yeah, several years ago we had a thing that michelle came down and went to us with in william washington and, um, I was there. Did you show, show up with?

Speaker 4 4:44

that I did. That was been that's five years ago. It was 2019, when they were getting ready to do bell reform in Little Washington which is Beaufort County, and I was there along with Charlie.

Speaker 3 4:54

Chase was there. We had to sit in the back right. We did and they treated us like the dirt on people's feet, yeah, and Mr Cable came in and he sat in front of us a couple rows up Very good, and you know, he just kind of gave us a cold stare and we're like okay, yeah. You know. So ever since then I've kind of been like you know, doi.

Speaker 4 5:18

Well, doi wants Bell around? I think just as much as we do, and you know they have a purpose for us, and if there's no us, then there's no purpose.

Speaker 2 5:27

Right right.

Speaker 4 5:28

So, I think you know it makes sense for everyone and listen that bail reform in Beaufort County failed miserably. I live right in the back door.

Speaker 3 5:38

Yeah, I'm in.

Speaker 4 5:38

Craven. So it's failed miserably. Nobody from that area comes to our area because they know they can get written recognizance in their area by committing the same crime they would in our area.

Conference Connections and DOI Insights

Speaker 3 5:50

Well, it's good to hear that lady's speech. You know, I could see judges and magistrates just looking at each other and shaking their head. Oh, they knew it wasn't going to work.

Speaker 4 5:58

They're like this ain't going to work when you can spit on a cop?

Speaker 2 6:02

and sign yourself out that takes all with cards of respect for law enforcement out the window and it's going to happen again and again and again.

Speaker 3 6:09

You do that and the person's just going to be like, well, that wasn't so bad, that's right.

Speaker 2 6:13

I can do it again. I'm a puppet.

Speaker 3 6:19

You can't do a thing to me.

Speaker 4 6:20

And those you know. That's just a small piece of what Bill Reform was doing to our law enforcement and LEOs, and can you imagine what, how they would feel towards bondsmen after that? So we have, we take a brunt of that lack of respect because of that reform onto our industry as well, because they see us as law enforcement. We're not law enforcement, we are privately funded bail agents who?

Speaker 4 6:48

do not cost the taxpayers any money whatsoever. Um, they pay for their own problems, is what I like to say. Whatever you pay me is what I'm going to use to go catch you.

Speaker 2 6:59

So yeah, well, so we got you on here now, sure, and so we're going to get you to tell your story, but before we got to introduce you correctly, Okay, we let you choose a song that you like we let it choose. Here we go. Too much to write up in your face. Too heavy to get off on my case, so sad. I'll put you in your place, alright that's it, dig it.

Speaker 4 7:30

I'm getting into it.

Speaker 2 7:30

Yeah, I know right, it's kind of rock and roll-ish. I like it.

Speaker 4 7:32

That's kind of my little trade song. When I hear somebody that they've ran for me, that she immediately comes into my mind.

Speaker 2 7:42

Alright, so where does this? How much was the bond?

Speaker 3 7:47

I have an 80 000 that'll make you fuck her up, yeah it will that'll make you sweat at night yeah so not for long though.

Speaker 2 7:57

Out of what county? Carteret, county of all places oh, we've done something, we've done some oh, they're a whole different breed yeah, it's weird how you can go to different counties and it's like people are different.

Speaker 3 8:09

You can tell where you're from based on they're on an ego trip out there.

Speaker 4 8:14

They have no respect for bondsmen. If you're not sheriff's department or police department, then you're nothing, and I've tried to explain playing nicely as I can to jailers sheriffs. I have made a rapport with them, though over the years it's even harder for a woman to be in this business and gain respect.

Speaker 3 8:32

Well, yeah, I would say, yeah, some kind of respect to like that you know, for those people they kind of might give you a hard time.

Speaker 4 8:41

Yeah, I tell them. I said you know what you might not like me or how I conduct business, but you need to respect it. You know At least you respect the fact that I have fiduciary responsibility to this bond and that it's going to cost me X amount of money if they don't care, they do not, they do not, they do not, they don't care, they don't care, they don't care.

Speaker 3 8:59

It's going to cost me money, yeah.

Speaker 4 9:01

I. I think they get a little kick out of the fact that I might have to pay.

Speaker 3 9:06

Right, yeah.

Speaker 4 9:07

Cha-ching cha-ching. That's where the cha-ching cha-ching comes in Yep.

Speaker 2 9:15

That's where, well, I can do this. You can't hear it, but we can.

Speaker 4 9:19

Wah, wah, wah wah.

Speaker 2 9:21

So all right, All right. It says $80,000 out of Carteret.

Speaker 4 9:26

What was the charge? All kinds of sell, deliver, schedule one, two, Two trillion.

Speaker 2 9:31

They had a lot of drugs.

Martha Chase's Intro and Background

Speaker 4 9:32

She's drug dealing. I'll tell you this. She was more of a user than a dealer. The cops wanted her ex-husband boyfriend really, really bad, so she had been. It's like a revolving door for her. If they don't get him, him they pick her back up they don't get him so because she's been making a deal with them.

Speaker 4 9:51

I won't disclose her name for her safety, um, but she, she absolutely has a boyfriend now. Boyfriend's a little weasel. I can't stand him um, but I bonded her out for the ex-husband who was the cosigner. He's good people, don't get me wrong, Right right. He does what he does on the street. That ain't none of my business, but the money was good. You?

Speaker 2 10:15

know the bond should have been good. She misses court.

Speaker 4 10:18

She misses court because she had a $10,000 bond C that she got arrested on.

Speaker 3 10:26

That means she's failed to appear more than two times.

Speaker 4 10:29

Thank you. And she got served on the $10,000 bond, c cash bond. I went to go surrender her on my $80,000 because she was in jail and, lo and behold, she had signed herself out because the clerk of Carteret County unsecured her bond. Not a judge, not a A clerk. She didn't have a motion in A clerk in the Carteret County clerk's office, unsecured her bond. And she signed herself out two and a half hours before I went to surrender her.

Speaker 4 11:05

Oh, that's and she was only there 10 days and there's no proof of modification in the system. None of that in e-courts Wow.

The $80,000 Bond Case Begins

Speaker 3 11:14

It's just all of a sudden poof. She signed herself up. That basically means you're on the hook.

Speaker 4 11:17

Well, exactly, so obviously what you got to do in this business.

Speaker 2 11:25

So where did she go, she?

Speaker 4 11:25

went to Lafayette, louisiana, with her boyfriend, who was also on a $7,500 bond with bankers. Both of these bonds were on with bankers.

Speaker 2 11:34

Oh, yeah, yeah, bankers.

Speaker 4 11:36

Bankers surety.

Speaker 2 11:38

We'll come back to his story. Bankers just told us they got one in California. We got to go do oh we're going to Cali.

Speaker 3 11:44

Yeah, we're going to Los Angeles, oh, we're going to.

Speaker 2 11:46

Cali.

Speaker 4 11:47

Yeah, we're going to Los Angeles. Oh great so anyway, go back.

Speaker 2 11:48

It just reminded me of that.

Speaker 4 11:50

LA is not my. But I have some connects in LA if you need it.

Speaker 3 11:54

We might.

Speaker 2 11:57

I got Alan out there, but we'll go out there.

Speaker 3 11:59

Oh yeah, alan Horn. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, what's up, buddy?

Speaker 2 12:01

Okay, all right, so go ahead, so, so go ahead. So they go down to Lafayette.

Speaker 4 12:04

So they drive from eastern North Carolina, what we like to call down east. They drive from all the way, from the coast of North Carolina all the way to the coast of Louisiana.

Speaker 2 12:13

What the hell? Lafayette, Louisiana? What was down there for them? Not?

Speaker 4 12:16

a thing.

Speaker 3 12:18

Well, that's the most frustrating thing when you're tracking somebody if there's no tie to them no family, no friends, no relatives, no nothing, no family, no friends, no relatives, no, nothing.

Speaker 4 12:28

That's a nightmare, then it was listen when I say it was God that called me. God picked up the phone and dialed my number and said hey, I think you know somebody. I saw your Facebook post.

Speaker 2 12:40

Oh really.

Speaker 4 12:43

Because I tagged her ass in it.

Speaker 4 12:43

I said come out, come out wherever you are, courtney Willis, and, lo and behold, god called me. Thank you, jesus, because when I say I put the post up at like four o'clock in the afternoon, eight o'clock that evening, I had a call from Lafayette, louisiana, and I was talking to my recovery agent, the guy that I work with out of Durham, about another case and I was like got to call you back. I got a call from Lafayette, louisiana I need to see who this is and I knew that they were not in NCIC. So that was one of the biggest complaints I had with the sheriff's department.

Speaker 4 13:19

That's the hardest thing in North Carolina to do is get somebody put in NCIC yeah you let them out on a written recognizance to work for you in the narcotics unit and then you don't put them in NCIC after they skip bond on you because you unsecured their skirts, unsecured their bond. Oh, wow, and then now I'm holding the bag.

Speaker 3 13:38

Yeah.

Speaker 4 13:38

I'm holding the bag, so I get the call. He's like hey, I think you're looking for A and B and I said, yeah, I am.

Speaker 3 13:48

I see my way down there. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 4 13:51

I said. He says is there a reward? I said there, sure is.

Speaker 3 13:55

Can be.

Tracking Fugitives to Lafayette

Speaker 4 13:56

Absolutely. He says, well, I have all the information. You want to pick them up. I said, let's do it, let's rock and roll. I'm there, Give me said, text me all the information you have on them. I'll hold that. I've got to find an assisting agent in that area to assist us on the recovery and turnover by state law. I didn't want to go to jail for kidnapping. I'm not about that jail life and that's very touchy-go in states, some states are very lenient.

Speaker 4 14:33

Some states are very you know very, very hardcore on the bond law. Yeah, we know. Um so I don't want to find out the hard way, that's for sure. Um, so I I put myself on a plane from Jacksonville, north Carolina, to Lafayette, louisiana. I met up with my agent in Atlanta. He flew from Raleigh to Atlanta. We both flew from Lafayette and rented a car by 7 o'clock. We had him in custody the next day.

Speaker 2 15:01

Wow, did they give you any trouble?

Speaker 4 15:04

No.

Speaker 2 15:05

They just popped up, they just glued on you and said oh shit.

Speaker 4 15:07

The residents of the hotel gave us more trouble for taking their testers, their dope testers, over us picking them up. Huh yeah, because they've been down there testing their dope, that's how they were getting high.

Speaker 2 15:23

Told them to go to hell.

Speaker 4 15:24

Yep, so we pull in. It's a one-way hotel situation. Um, my agent and the the male went one way to the hotel. Me and another female agent went the other way, because those two were separated at a time at one time because the truck broke down. We expected him to be at the truck and her to be at the hotel. So we didn't want them to communicate between the two of them on phone, so we decided to execute at the same time. So if they were together, great, there was enough coverage there.

Speaker 2 15:58

Now, did you drive back with them? Hell, no, you flew back with them. Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about Some bonds and wheels. I love it. I love flying in the heartbeat. I'll fly somebody in the heartbeat.

Speaker 4 16:08

FDA was great, tsa was great. I had no problems. Then again, we didn't fly armed.

Speaker 3 16:16

That's what we hired the assistants for when we were there, okay, so when you got them cuffed, you had them in the front. It was an exchange you put something over it to hide the cops and stuff.

Speaker 4 16:26

No, they put us on the back of the dam. We used to do it.

Speaker 2 16:29

Well, all right. So American is what US Marshals use as preferred, and that's who they're easy.

Speaker 4 16:35

That explains a lot. They're cheap.

Speaker 2 16:37

Yeah, but the captains know what's going on, so they know how to handle it. Delta has gave me problems with going to.

Speaker 4 16:44

Paris. I love Delta. Look, I'm a silver medallion member and they have absolutely accommodated every flight that I've ever been on.

The Recovery Operation and Flight Back

Speaker 2 16:54

I've had some, but Americans they've always been good. But I'll tell you what flying with somebody is stressful because you're always. You know you always got one eye when I'm trying to figure it out and Chad knows We've done it a billion times, but yeah, it's difficult. You know you always got one eye when I'm trying to figure it out and Chad knows We've done it a billion times. Yes, but yeah, it's difficult. But once you finally get back and land, you're like all right, cool, we're here, now we can just make this thing happen.

Speaker 4 17:16

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2 17:18

So how long ago was that?

Speaker 4 17:20

Just last week.

Speaker 2 17:21

Oh, just last week.

Speaker 4 17:22

Last week. I'm still decompressing from the situation. We not only brought the couple back, we brought their damn dog back too. Sweetest dog in the world, Blacklight, three years old. He had been through hell and back. I mean, he was in a trap hotel. So, Hunter, you flew the dog back with you. We did. The dog is now my grand dog.

Speaker 3 17:47

Tell them the name of the dog and how the dog got its name.

Speaker 4 17:49

So Opie, Short for opium, oh my.

Speaker 3 17:53

Lord, isn't that sweet Name it after somebody.

Speaker 2 17:57

You can't make this shit up, you cannot.

Speaker 4 18:00

The absolute most well-behaved animal I've ever come in contact with, for me first knowing them flew both legs perfectly, drove from lafayette to baton rouge to catch the next flight home. I mean it, the dog was more well behaved than that damn defendant of mine. He could not sit still to save his life because he had all the restlessness from detoxing. And look, I had Advil PM a Modi. I said night night, motherfuckers, you carry your ass. I had him a blanket with neck.

Speaker 4 18:35

I got pictures, I'll give you that you can post with the thing, but because you got a document, every time you come back with somebody, you know if you're going to charge somebody for this, or you're because, listen, sheriff's Department is going to get a nice fat bill from me. I want my money back.

Speaker 2 18:51

I'm 10 grand in going to get them. It does cost a lot of money.

Speaker 4 18:56

Damn right it does If they would have never unsecured that bond.

Speaker 2 19:00

Yeah, well, this is true, but you know what? It's a lot of it. Like I said, every county is different.

Speaker 3 19:06

We had a 50 that we called as a sovereign citizen and we called them with the help of US Marshals in Chicago, and she got extradited back and they let her out.

Speaker 2 19:21

And then they called us.

System Failures and Final Thoughts

Speaker 3 19:23

They called me and wanted to know because they said that the boyfriend had come to the courthouse. I believe it was. No, the girl did After she'd been let out unsecured after being extradited back on a $50,000, it's supposed to double to $100,000, right, yeah. Unsecured, let her out and the DA's office was mad that the jail let them out Called me and wanted to know do you know what kind of vehicle they could be in? I was like I just went through hell trying to catch this sovereign citizen.

Speaker 4 19:58

For a nice fee. I might know what they are driving.

Speaker 3 20:02

You know so I told them and they ended up catching them before they could make it because they were going to South Carolina. I knew where they lived in South Carolina there driving it. You know so I told them and they ended up catching them before they could make it because they were going to South Carolina. I knew where they lived in South Carolina and so if they would have got across the line they would have, you know, they would have had to stop.

Speaker 4 20:14

I'm going to tell you, the mistakes that have been made through the jails where I live at are pretty concerning.

Speaker 3 20:22

Yeah.

Speaker 4 20:23

Pretty concerning. I mean I've actually had. I was there bonding someone out. They let the wrong person out.

Speaker 2 20:31

Same name. That's happened.

Speaker 4 20:32

And they're like hey, do you think you can help us with that?

Speaker 2 20:35

I'm like what's the bounty? Right Right.

Speaker 4 20:39

I didn't send them a bill for that one, but for this one you might get a bill. This one you might get a bill.

Speaker 2 20:43

Well, appreciate you, martha, for coming on. Absolutely, this has been awesome. This is our last episode from the conference.

Speaker 3 20:54

I'm done. Yeah, we're done for today.

Speaker 4 20:55

You guys have done good work, I think everybody else is packed up, except us Well y'all put some work in today and y'all should be proud of yourselves.

Speaker 2 21:02

Yeah, well, thank you very much for hanging out with us and telling us your story and everybody at home you know. Keep up with us. You know where we're at. I ain't going to keep telling you over and over.

Speaker 3 21:13

It's on the outro.

Speaker 2 21:14

Yeah, it's on the outro, Just listen up, but until then, I'm Rob, I'm Chad.

Speaker 1 21:26

What's up? Martha Chase, boss Lady Bill Bonds, we'll check you out later. Peace, you've been listening to Off the Hook with Chad and Rob. We hope you've enjoyed the show. Make sure to like, rate and review, and be sure to follow us for notifications for another exciting episode. But in the meantime, you can go to our website at wwwoffthehookbillcom to see more. So until next time, stay out of trouble, or it'll be you that needs to get off the hook. See you soon.