Murder Suspect Nabbed In Texas

Tuesday, July 17th 2007, 9:29 am

By: News On 6

An accused child killer is now behind bars. Eric Rentie had been on the run from Tulsa Police for months, late Monday night Deputy U.S. Marshals caught up with Rentie in Houston. When leads in the case fizzled out police got Rentie featured on the TV show â€œAmerica's Most Wanted.â€ News On 6â€™s Steve Berg reports police say that helped track him down.

Set to go on trial in February, police say accused killer Eric Rentie skipped town. And he proved to be a formidable fugitive.

"U.S. Marshals and Tulsa Police Department on several occasions had been close to apprehending him. But close in these instances just doesn't work," said Scott Walton with the Tulsa Police Department.

The crime described by witnesses and police was an especially troubling one. They say Rentie was arguing with a woman outside a Tulsa home and fired shots into her car, where 18-month old Deontae Alexander was strapped in a car seat. He was shot in the head.

A U.S. Marshal says tips from â€œAmerica's Most Wantedâ€ led them to Houston where they had a vehicle description and the name of a hotel.

"Approximately 45 minutes after they had set up he pulled in driving a vehicle. They surrounded the vehicle and he surrendered without any incident," Walton said.

Crime reporter Lori Fullbright talked with Deontae's mother not long after the shooting happened back in June of 2005.

"Me and Deontae went everywhere together, everywhere. Everyone would say Marva can't go 'cause she's got Deontae. I always had him with me and I'll always still have him with me," Deontaeâ€™s mother Marva Alexander said in 2005.

Police say they're very happy they caught up with this one.

"We've got a guy who's responsible for the death of a 17-month-old off the street,â€ Officer Walton said.

Rentie is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Deontae. Heâ€™s currently in the Travis County jail in Texas. At some point, he'll have an extradition hearing and be sent to Tulsa.

Watch the video: Accused Tulsa Child Killer Arrested In Texas

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6/25/2005 17-Month-Old Baby Killed In A Tulsa Shooting Incident

6/27/2005 Investigation Into Weekend Death Of A 17-Month-Old Child Continues

4/27/2007 Oklahoma Murder Suspect To Be Featured On America's Most Wanted