A 65-year-old California fugitive, Donald Santini, who had been on the run for nearly four decades, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for killing a Florida woman. Santini pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in order to avoid a first-degree murder charge. The sentencing took place in Tampa on Thursday, with Circuit Judge Samantha Ward approving the deal. The case was set to go to trial in two weeks before the plea agreement was reached.
Santini, who has been in jail without bond since his arrest in June, had been living in California under the name Wellman Simmonds. He held the position of president of a local water board in Campo, a small suburb of San Diego, and regularly attended public board meetings. However, his life in California came to an end when a tip from the Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force led U.S. marshals to his location in Campo, resulting in his arrest.
In 1984, Santini went by the name Charles Michael Stevens, using an alias to avoid a warrant for a crime committed in Texas. Hillsborough County Sheriff’s officials revealed that he had used at least 13 different aliases over the years. Prosecutors, who were prepared to present new evidence to the jurors, stated that Santini was the last person seen with Cynthia “Cindy” Ruth Wood, 33, on June 6, 1984. Wood’s body was discovered in a water-filled ditch three days later.
During the hearing, Assistant State Attorney Scott Harmon shared that Wood had informed her friends and associates about going on a date on June 5, 1984. Neighbors later informed investigators that they had seen a van parked in Wood’s driveway. Harmon further explained that a woman who had been in a relationship with Santini told investigators that he borrowed a van for the date. Santini allegedly stated that he planned to intoxicate Wood and leave her in front of a police station.
According to Harmon, a witness claimed that Santini had mentioned being paid by Wood’s husband’s family to gather damaging character evidence for a custody battle over their children. The witness stated that Santini confessed to killing Wood and disposing of her body. The witness could have identified Santini in court.
Following the hearing, Hillsborough Assistant Public Defender Jamie Kane declined to provide any comments on the case.
