Using Presenct Perfect to tell a story ?

6年前

Hey, 

I saw a documentary about prison life in the U.S. yesterday and there was one scene I was a little bit worried about. 

The interviewer talked to a woman who had escaped from prison and was than more than 30 years on the run.

He litterally said to her: "I never heard a story of someone who has been on the run for 35 years." 

Why did he use Present Perfect instead of Simple Past ? I mean he talked about a specific time (35years). And the woman has already been in jail for many years when the interview was shot.

Or did I miss something?

Thanks for help.