Murder Suspect Hid in Plain Sight for 40 Years: Prosecutors

he was a pillar of his community an upstanding citizen served as the head of the local water board he was also according to authorities a cold-blooded killer who got away with murder for 40 years now he's under arrest after hiding for decades in plain sight tears as a gray-haired grandpa is denied bail you're the definition of Flight Risk there is nothing I can do to preserve the safety of this community if I were to let you go 65-year-old Donald Santini may not look dangerous but prosecutors say he's a wanted Contract Killer who hid in plain sight for 40 years his FBI wanted poster was so old it was offered on eBay for 39 as vintage Americana Santini is accused of strangling Cynthia wood a 33 year old mom from Tampa in 1984. the victim was last seen by a family member in the company of satini she was found face down in a ditch after a Santini allegedly lured her to a meeting in connection with her divorce and custody battle I never thought this day would come her stepdaughter Now 60 spoke with Lisa Guerrero he's finally been captured can you describe how that makes you feel it just amazes me that like since 9 11 someone can evade the judicial system for so long you can't even get married without your birth certificate and Social Security number this is how Santini looked back then and now he fled Tampa and authorities say he settled in the Tiny Town of Campo outside San Diego under the name Wellman Simmons he got married in 1990 and became a pillar of the community interviewed on his local TV station he was even appointed president of the County Water Authority I am welding I'm the president of the board now but his world came crashing down after he applied for a passport he was arrested by U.S Marshals in a handwritten letter to a TV station he said the reason I have been able to run so long is to live a loving respectful life I feel like I am being used as a patsy his adult daughter posted I miss you papa stay strong [Music]

Channel: Inside Edition

Views: 261,734

Keywords: crime, ie health, Inside edition, inside_edition, ie newsdesk, florida, donald santini, search, murder suspect, plain sight, fbi, america’s most wanted, bail hearing, wanted contract killer, cynthia wood, tampa, custody battle, wellman simmonds, lisa guerrero

Id: eU73sjI48lA

Length: 2min 24sec (144 seconds)

Published: Thu Jul 13 2023