Oklahoma Murder Suspect To Be Featured On America's Most Wanted

A Tulsa murder suspect on the run will be featured on America's Most Wanted Saturday night. Eric Rentie is charged with killing an 18-month-old baby. He was supposed to go on trial in February, but

Friday, April 27th 2007, 7:15 pm

By: News On 6

A Tulsa murder suspect on the run will be featured on America's Most Wanted Saturday night. Eric Rentie is charged with killing an 18-month-old baby. He was supposed to go on trial in February, but he skipped out and hasn't been seen since. U.S. Marshals and Tulsa Police have spent hundreds of hours searching for Rentie. They've tracked him to several states and even though there's a $10,000 reward on his head, they can't find him. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports they hope putting him on national TV will do the trick.

The day was June 25th, 2005. Rentie, known on the streets of Tulsa as Lil Wood, spotted a woman he was mad at and had been looking for. She and Rentie got into an argument. Witnesses say he pulled out a gun, something he should never have had since he's an ex-con. They say he fired it into the woman's car, even as she was screaming not to, because her baby boy was inside. Deontae Alexander was strapped in his car seat and died from a gunshot wound to the head. He hadn't even made it to his second birthday.

"It's gripping, knowing a small child was involved, who had no say in the matter," said U.S. Marshal Chad Hunt.

Police say Rentie traded cars with buddies, dumped the gun in the Arkansas River, then turned himself into police. Even though he had a previous felony conviction, he was granted bail of $500,000. He posted it in September, with strict instructions to show up at his trial, which he did not do. Despite an intense manhunt, he's avoided capture.

"He has a lot of assets, people willing to aid and abet him and hide him out,â€ said Hunt. â€œWhen you have people willing to help you out in other states, it makes it difficult for us."

Marshals say it's time to ask for the public's help and that's why they've asked America's Most Wanted to feature Rentie as a wanted fugitive. They hope Rentie's days on the run will soon be over.

"We have resources across the country, however, when you put a fugitive on national TV during primetime, you get a lot of help you can't often times find," said Hunt.

The TV show says it has helped capture 937 fugitives so far. A Tulsa bail bonds company has put up a $10,000 reward for a tip that leads to Rentie's arrest. That's in addition to the $1,000 Crimestoppers reward.

Watch the video: Tulsa Murder Suspect Featured On America's Most Wanted