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Donald Santini, 65, of Campo, California, has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for the 1984 homicide of Cynthia “Cindy” Wooden.Santini killed Wooden whereas on a date staged by her estranged husband, who had paid Santini to gather damaging character proof for a custody battle.Santini, a fugitive for a lot of his grownup life, has lived underneath at the very least 13 false identities whereas fleeing justice.
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 pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide in a take care of prosecutors to keep away from a first-degree homicide cost. Circuit Decide Samantha Ward authorized the deal earlier than issuing the sentence in Tampa on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Occasions reported. The case had been set to go to trial in two weeks.
“Good luck,” the decide instructed Santini, who has been in jail with out bond since his arrest in June at his residence close to San Diego.
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“Thanks, Your Honor,” Santini, whose arms have been cuffed in entrance of him, replied.
Earlier than his arrest, Santini had lived in California underneath the title of Wellman Simmonds. He was president of a neighborhood 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 due to a tip from the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Job Pressure. That led U.S. marshals to Campo, the place Santini was taken into custody.
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 at the very least 13 aliases over time.
Cynthia Ruth Wooden, left, and Donald Michael Santini, proper. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Prosecutors, who have been ready to current new info concerning the case to jurors, stated Santini was the final individual to be seen with Cynthia “Cindy” Ruth Wooden, 33, 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 lady who was in a relationship with Santini instructed investigators that he borrowed a van to go on the date.
“He suggested that he was taking her on a date to verify she was intoxicated after which drop her in entrance of a police station,” Harmon stated.
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A witness instructed investigators that Santini had stated the household of Wooden’s husband paid him to get damaging character proof, which might be utilized in a custody battle over the couple’s younger youngsters.
Santini instructed the lady the following morning that he’d killed Wooden and dumped her physique, Harmon stated.
“That witness would have been capable of establish the defendant,” Harmon stated.
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After the listening to, Hillsborough Assistant Public Defender Jamie Kane declined to touch upon the case.
California man sentenced in Florida homicide case after almost 4 a long time on the run
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