"Most Wanted" suspect caught

A Columbus murder suspect on the run for more than a year is in custody. Authorities say they caught Michael Jason Registe on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. Registe has been on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted list with a reward of $100,000. He is charged with shooting Randy Newton Jr. and Bryan Kilgore in the parking lot of Cross Creek Apartments last July.

FBI: Columbus murder suspect on top 10 list

Registe (FBI)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Saturday placed Columbus resident Michael Jason Registe, 25, on its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Registe is a suspect in the murders of two Columbus high school grads in an apartment parking lot last July.

The FBI will announce details of the step at a press conference Monday morning, according to a statement released Saturday.

The Bureau also upped the reward on information leading to Registe’s arrest from $20,000 to $100,000.

More details are available at the FBI website: http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/fugitives/registe_mj.htm:

"MICHAEL JASON REGISTE IS WANTED FOR HIS ALLEGED PARTICIPATION IN A DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. ON JULY 20, 2007, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS RESPONDED TO A SHOOTING INCIDENT IN WHICH TWO MALES SITTING INSIDE A TRUCK HAD SUFFERED EXECUTION-STYLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE BACK OF THEIR HEADS. ONE OF THE VICTIMS DIED AT THE SCENE AND THE OTHER DIED SHORTLY AFTERWARD.

"CONSIDERED ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

"IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PERSON, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE OR THE NEAREST U.S. EMBASSY OR CONSULATE."

Officials up reward for alleged killer to $20,000

Michael Jason Registe. (FBI)

A renewed effort is under way to capture a man wanted in a nearly 1-year-old double homicide case in Columbus.

The FBI and Columbus Police announced Wednesday that the reward for information leading to the capture of Michael Jason Registe was increased from $5,000 to $20,000.

Police said Registe is wanted in the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Randy Newton Jr., and 20-year-old Bryan Kilgore. Both men were gunned down on July 20th, 2007 in the parking lot of Cross Creek Apartments.

FBI Senior Agent Donnie Green said he believes someone know Registe's whereabouts, but won't come forward.

The FBI website page on Registe warns that he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

(With The Associated Press)