There was a woman, Karla _______ who became a true born-again Christian in prison and sought reprieve from the death penalty in TX a few years ago.
I remember that case, wasn't her name Karla Faye Tucker? I do believe her conversion while she was behind bars was genuine, but she was sentenced to death, and, like you expressed, she had to pay the price. I also believe in my heart that God forgave her for her acts.
I doubt the sincerity of her conversion because she was one of Pat Robertson's pet causes--and, IMNHO, Pat's not sincere, either. (Sincere Christians do NOT go into diamond-mining partnerships with the likes of Samuel Taylor Doe, former thug-in-chief of Liberia.)