Duluth Suspect Released From New Mexico Jail

The suspect in the theft of a 1988 Porsche 944 from a March Duluth murder scene was apparently released from the Sandoval County, New Mexico, Detention Center May 13. He had been arrested by a Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department deputy April 7 on a criminal warrant for car theft issued by the Duluth Police Department.

Robert Craig Sandman, 52, was arrested in the parking lot of a casino in San Felipe Pueblo, NM.

After Sandman was arraigned in New Mexico, there apparently was a foul-up with the paperwork and the judge ordered his release after 20 days. A spokesperson at the New Mexico jail said that papers were faxed to Georgia, but no one came to pick Sanderson up. 

Unless Sanderson was picked up for extradition within the time limit or the car theft charges filed again by the Duluth PD, standard extradition law requires the prisoner be released, according to Lt. Keith Elder with the Sandoval County Sheriff's Department.

Duluth Patch had made inquiries to determine exactly what transpired with the paperwork. A Duluth Police spokesman had previously indicated the department was in the process of extraditing Sandman to Georgia.

In response to an inquiry Friday (July 12), Duluth Police Capt. Mark Hunter told Duluth Patch that apparently the notification that Sandman was ready for pickup was sent by the Sandoval County Sheriff's Department to (Georgia) felony probation. 

"It should have been sent to the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department, which handles extraditions," Hunter said. That department never received the notice, he said. The Duluth PD did not receive notification either, he said.

Hunter added that the Duluth PD had only learned that Sandman had been released two days ago. He also said it was not known which felony probation office the pickup notice had been sent to.

Sandman had been released from prison two days before the Duluth incident, Hunter said.

Duluth PD's warrant for Sandman is still active, he said.

The body of Donald Singer was found wrapped in a blanket in the garage of his home on Montheath Pass March 28 by his daughter Jessica Black, who called 911.

It was determined that Singer’s Porsche was missing along with some personal effects. A BOLO was issued for the Porsche by police. The Duluth PD then issued the warrant April 4.

The car was believed to have been stolen between March 24 and March 29. It is reportedly still in New Mexico.

Singer was apparently killed between 7 a.m. March 24 and 3 p.m. March 26.

A family member contacted Duluth Patch about Sandman’s mistaken release.