TAMPA, Fla. – A 65-year-old California fugitive who eluded government for just about 4 a long time sooner than his arrest in June has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for killing a Florida woman.
Donald Santini pleaded accountable to second-degree homicide in a maintain prosecutors to steer clear of a first-degree homicide fee. Circuit Judge Samantha Ward authorized the deal sooner than issuing the sentence in Tampa on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The case were set to visit trial in two weeks.
“Good luck,” the pass judgement on advised Santini, who has been in prison with out bond since his arrest in June at his house close to San Diego.
“Thank you, Your Honor,” Santini, whose palms have been cuffed in entrance of him, spoke back.
Before his arrest, Santini had lived in California beneath the title of Wellman Simmonds. He used to be president of a neighborhood water board in Campo, a tiny suburb of San Diego, and he often gave the impression at public board conferences.
The lifestyles he had constructed in California got here to an finish because of a tip from the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. That led U.S. marshals to Campo, the place Santini used to be taken into custody.
In 1984, Santini used to be referred to as Charles Michael Stevens, which used to be an alias he used to outrun a warrant for against the law dedicated in Texas. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s officers mentioned he used a minimum of 13 aliases over time.
Prosecutors, who have been ready to provide new info in regards to the case to jurors, mentioned Santini used to be the final individual to be noticed with Cynthia “Cindy” Ruth Wood, 33, on June 6, 1984, and her frame used to be discovered in a water-filled ditch 3 days later.
Assistant State Attorney Scott Harmon mentioned right through Thursday’s listening to that Wood advised buddies and co-workers she used to be happening a date on June 5, 1984, and neighbors later advised investigators they noticed a van parked in her driveway.
Harmon mentioned a woman who used to be in a courting with Santini advised investigators that he borrowed a van to head at the date.
“He advised that he was taking her on a date to make sure she was intoxicated and then drop her in front of a police station,” Harmon mentioned.
A witness advised investigators that Santini had mentioned the circle of relatives of Wood’s husband paid him to get harmful persona proof, which may well be used in a custody combat over the couple’s babies.
Santini advised the woman the following morning that he’d killed Wood and dumped her frame, Harmon mentioned.
“That witness would have been able to identify the defendant,” Harmon mentioned.
After the listening to, Hillsborough Assistant Public Defender Jamie Kane declined to remark at the case.
Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved.