Man wanted for 1993 Utica murder captured and returned to U.S.

Story Created: Oct 20, 2008 at 2:20 PM EST

Story Updated: Oct 20, 2008 at 4:28 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. - The United States Marshals Service announces the capture of New York State Top 100 Most Wanted Fugitive Donovan Skelton, aka “Tallman”, 46, of Jamaica. Skelton was charged with second-degree murder on February 29, 1996 for a murder he is believed to have committed on December 13, 1993 in the City of Utica.

A warrant for his arrest was issued at that time. Skelton fled the United States to his native Jamaica prior to authorities locating and arresting him.

In 2004 the United States Marshals Service adopted the Oneida County Murder 2nd warrant and began to look for Skelton with the assistance of the Oneida County Sheriffs Office Warrants Unit. Information developed during the investigation indicated Skelton had left Jamaica and was living in the Bahamas.

United States Marshals investigators sent leads to Jamaica and the Bahamas. On April 4, 2008 authorities in the Bahamas located Skelton utilizing information from the leads sent to them. United States Marshals investigators obtained a Provisional Arrest Warrant for Skelton in the Bahamas and on April 7, 2008 Bahamian authorities then arrested Skelton on the Provisional Arrest Warrant.

On October 14, 2008 members of the United States Marshals Service, Utica office traveled to Nassau in the Bahamas and took custody of Skelton.

Skelton was returned to Oneida County by United States Marshals Service Investigators on October 17, 2008.

Investigators from the Oneida Sheriffs Office warrants Unit, Utica Police Department, the New York State Police Violent Felonies Warrants Unit and the Oneida County District Attorneys office assisted in the investigation.

The Oneida County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the United States Marshals Service Office of International Affairs prepared all of the necessary paperwork to effect the extradition of SKELTON from the Bahamas to Oneida County for prosecution.
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