July 11, 2000

FUGITIVE MURDER SUSPECT RETURNED TO MERCER COUNTY 

Trenton-- Fugitive murder suspect, Renford L. “Gaudy” Wilson, age 23, of Misula Parkway in the Bronx, New York and formerly of the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue in Hamilton, was returned to New Jersey today to stand trial for his role in the October 1996 murder of Leandro Rafael Garcia Hernandez, announced Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto. 

            According to Prosecutor Giaquinto, Wilson was identified as the “trigger-man” in the October 29, 1996 slaying of Hernandez in a South Cook Avenue bordello.  During 1996, Wilson and his three accomplices, Wigberto Gonzalez, age 29, Roberto Flores, age 23, and Kurt Richard Martin, age 29 , were on a spree of brothel robberies when they encountered Hernandez.  Wilson allegedly stuck his .12-gague rifle in Hernandez’ face and fired one shot immediately killing him.  

Wilson had been a fugitive until April 14, 2000 when the Central Jersey Fugitive Task Force, traced Wilson’s whereabouts to the Jerome Avenue/Gunn Hill Road section of the Bronx.  Mercer County Prosecutor’s Det. Cory Kammler and Deputy United States Marshal Rick Cope, with assistance from New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Fugitive Task Force of the United States Marshals Service, apprehended Wilson without incident.  Wilson was held in New York pending extradition to New Jersey.  Governor Whitman signed a Governor’s Warrant today and Wilson was then returned to Mercer County to stand trial. 

            According to Prosecutor Giaquinto, “the return of Renford Wilson to Mercer County is due to the persistence and dogged determination of the Central Jersey Fugitive Task Force.  The Task Force relied on hard-nosed police work  in order to bring Renford Wilson to justice.”