Sorry so long! I'm not so sure about the reports about VW's high intelligence and upstanding character tbh.
I'm sure she knew what was going on at the jail she worked at and how to get around the obstacles there, but who wouldn't after all those years. After that, does it really take a genius to have a place to hide out and get there.
Also, her job is one that frequently has to take just about anyone who would show up. It doesn't require much education, is low paying, horrible conditions, dangerous and with high turnover. It could be just showing up the longest and being somewhat agreeable and somewhat competent gets you employee of the year award sometimes at a place like that.
It seems to me much more likely that she had been skirting the rules for some time in this poorly run jail and was well liked because she let others do the same. I see that long before seeing her suddenly jumping off the deep end out of nowhere with this convict after many years of exemplary behavior. I wonder if she had other prison boyfriends before this guy and what else she's been involved in all along. In other words, that she actually identified with the inmates, like she was one of them.
Or maybe she even believes in this guy's innocence and thinks she's righteously saving him. One thing that occurred to me is that he's in for 75 years when he has NOT been convicted of any murders, if I recall correctly. IF that is correct, though he does seem to me a very dangerous individual who BELONGS behind bars, that still seems a lot of years for crimes that are less than murder.
MOO