- A suspect in a cold case murder admitted to watching his own episode on “America’s Most Wanted.”
- Donald Santini is facing a first-degree murder charge for the 1984 killing of Cynthia Wood.
- Court documents reveal that Santini was living under an alias and was apprehended when he applied for a passport.
A suspect in a cold case murder who had successfully eluded authorities for 39 years had been featured on multiple episodes of the popular television show “America’s Most Wanted,” even witnessing his own story unfold, according to court documents.
Donald Michael Santini was apprehended last month in San Diego and charged with the 1984 murder of Cynthia Wood in Florida. Wood’s strangled body was found abandoned in a canal, as reported by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, Santini was extradited to Florida and charged with first-degree murder.
In a motion filed on Thursday and obtained by Law & Crime, prosecutors argued against Santini’s release from jail prior to his trial due to his history of evasive behavior, which includes fleeing from the authorities, traveling to different states, and living under false identities.
Court documents reveal that Santini had been living under the name Wellman Simmons in California when federal agents discovered his involvement in identity fraud to obtain a passport illegally.
Prosecutors allege that Santini was initially arrested for aggravated robbery in Galveston County, Texas, in 1983 but was released before trial. He then fled to Florida, where he committed the murder of Cynthia Wood in June 1984.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated that Santini was the last person seen with Wood before her body was found, making him a prime suspect. Despite years of searching, including international efforts in Thailand, Santini remained elusive until his recent arrest.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office also mentioned that Santini had been featured on “America’s Most Wanted” in 1990, 2005, and 2013.
Prosecutors argued that Santini has not only committed two violent and dangerous crimes but also demonstrated the ability to evade justice by assuming multiple fake identities over the course of 39 years.
Insider has reached out to the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office for comment, and as of now, no lawyer has been identified for Santini.
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