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A 65-year-old California fugitive who eluded authorities for almost 4 a long time earlier than his arrest in June has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for killing a Florida girl.
Donald Santini — who appeared on the TV present “America’s Most Wished” in 1990, 2005 and 2013 — pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide within the demise of Cynthia “Cindy” Ruth Wooden in a take care of prosecutors to keep away from a first-degree homicide cost. Circuit Decide Samantha Ward authorised the deal earlier than issuing the sentence in Tampa on Thursday, CBS affiliate WTSP reported. The case had been set to go to trial in two weeks.
“Good luck,” the choose instructed Santini, who has been in jail with out bond since his arrest in June at his house close to San Diego.
“Thanks, Your Honor,” Santini, whose arms have been cuffed in entrance of him, replied.
Earlier than his arrest, Santini had lived in California below the identify of Wellman Simmonds. He was president of an area water board in Campo, a tiny suburb of San Diego, and he commonly appeared at public board conferences.
The life he had in-built California got here to an finish because of a tip from the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Activity Power. That led U.S. marshals to Campo, the place Santini was taken into custody.
The arrest warrant stated a medical expert decided she had been strangled and Santini’s fingerprints have been discovered on her physique, WFTS-TV reported.
“Santini was featured on America’s Most Wished a number of occasions all through his a long time on the run however was solely found by federal authorities this yr when he utilized for a passport and his fingerprints have been discovered to be a match for the lacking homicide suspect,” a spokesperson with the State Lawyer’s Workplace stated in a information launch obtained by WTSP.
In 1984, Santini was generally known as Charles Michael Stevens, which was an alias he used to outrun a warrant for against the law dedicated in Texas. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s officers stated he used not less than 13 aliases through the years.
Prosecutors, who have been ready to current new details in regards to the case to jurors, stated Santini was the final individual to be seen with the 33-year-old Wooden on June 6, 1984, and her physique was present in a water-filled ditch three days later.
Assistant State Lawyer Scott Harmon stated throughout Thursday’s listening to that Wooden instructed pals and associates she was occurring a date on June 5, 1984, and neighbors later instructed investigators they noticed a van parked in her driveway.
Harmon stated a girl who was in a relationship with Santini instructed investigators that he borrowed a van to go on the date.
A witness instructed investigators that Santini had stated the household of Wooden’s husband paid him to get damaging character proof, which may very well be utilized in a custody battle over the couple’s younger kids.
Santini instructed the girl the following morning that he’d killed Wooden and dumped her physique, Harmon stated.
“That witness would have been in a position to determine the defendant,” Harmon stated.
After the listening to, Hillsborough Assistant Public Defender Jamie Kane declined to touch upon the case.
After his arrest, Santini instructed ABC 10News in a handwritten 16-page letter despatched from jail that he volunteered with the Rotary Membership, owned a Thai restaurant and ran an condominium block. “The rationale I’ve been in a position to run so lengthy is to reside a loving respectful life,” he wrote to the station.
Santini beforehand served time in jail for raping a girl whereas stationed in Germany, officers beforehand stated.
“No household ought to need to spend a long time ready for justice to be served within the merciless homicide of their cherished one,” State Lawyer Suzy Lopez stated in a press release obtained by CBS affiliate WTSP. “This defendant not solely stole an harmless life, however he additionally left a household with out their mom, and with out solutions. Our ideas are with the sufferer’s household and pals as they shut a painful chapter and transfer towards therapeutic.”
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