COLD CASE CLOSED: Man Wanted for Attempted Murder 30 Years Ago Captured Using Fake Identity

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A man wanted for attempted murder and house invasion in Madison County 30 years ago has been captured and accused of using a fake identity in Michigan, authorities said Friday. Robert D. Mason III, 53, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was charged on Friday with one felony count of identity theft, according to a Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

In 1994, Mason was charged with attempted first-degree murder and house invasion. Mason is accused of shooting a man four times and forcing his way into an Alton woman’s home on May 15, 1994.

“The identity theft case was investigated by Alton Police after an Alton resident made a report that someone had used his identity in a financial transaction,” according to the announcement. “The investigation led to Mason being named as a suspect. Mason was recently arrested in Kalamazoo by Alton police and the United States Marshals Service. Mason was being held at the Madison County Jail on Friday.

Mason’s defense counsel could not be reached for comment Friday. Mason, if convicted of identity theft, could receive a 15-year term. “The charge alleges that Mason knowingly used the personal identifying information of another person to obtain credit and property under the victim’s name, with the value of the credit and property being between $10,000 and $100,000,” according to the announcement.

The attempted murder and home invasion charges each carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Mason could not be located after the accusations were filed in 1994, but they are still pending.

The Madison County State’s Attorney who filed the charges against Mason in 1994 was the late William R. Haine, father of the current state’s attorney, Tom Haine. “I commend Alton Police for their diligent investigation and their commitment to pursuing justice, no matter how long it takes,” Tom Haine stated in a press release.

Prosecutors have filed a pretrial detention petition requesting that Mason be detained in custody until his trial. This request does not have a hearing date established.

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