U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation
For Immediate Release
August 23, 2001
Sacramento, California
Press Release

Sacramento, CA -- Richard R. Baker, Special Agent in Charge of the Sacramento Division of the FBI, U.S. Marshal Jerry Enomoto and Sacramento County Sheriff Lou Blanas announce the Federal Bureau of Investigation today placed Nikolay Soltys on its "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list. Nikolay Soltys is being sought for the murder of six of his family members in and around the Sacramento, California area. Soltys should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

On August 20, 2001, Nikolay Soltys allegedly stabbed his 23-year-old pregnant wife to death in their North Highlands, California home. He reportedly then drove to the home of his aunt and uncle where he is suspected of killing the couple and his two young cousins. After the first five murders, Soltys allegedly drove to his mother's house and picked up his three-year-old son. Later that evening, Soltys' car was found in the vicinity of his mother's house. During a search of the vehicle, a note was recovered with information regarding the location of Soltys' son. On August 21, 2001, investigators located the boy's body in an empty field in Roseville, California.

A state arrest warrant for murder was issued for Nikolay Soltys on August 20, 2001, by the California Superior Court for the County of Sacramento in Sacramento, California. Then, on August 21, 2001, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a federal arrest warrant charging Soltys with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Nikolay Soltys is described as a White male, 6'0", 165 pounds, with blond or brown hair and blue eyes. He was born in Ukraine on May 19, 1974, and speaks broken English with an accent. Soltys uses the following aliases: Mykola Soltys, Nikolay A. Soltys, Nikolay Alekseyevi Soltys. Soltys has ties to Canada; New York; California, Seattle, Washington; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nikolay Soltys is the 466th person to be placed on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, which began in 1950. Since then, 437 fugitives have been apprehended or located, 139 of them as a result of citizen cooperation.

The federal fugitive investigation is being coordinated jointly by the FBI and the United States Marshals Service. A reward of up to $50,000 is being offered for any information leading directly to the arrest of Nikolay Soltys. Individuals with information concerning Nikolay Soltys should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the nearest office of the FBI, United States Marshals Service, or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Further information about Nikolay Soltys, including his wanted poster, is available on the FBI's Internet Home Page. The FBI's Internet Home Page address is: http://www.fbi.gov.

The Sacramento Sheriff's Department has also established two 24-hour tip lines for information concerning Soltys: (916) 874-5321 and (916) 874-5414. Sacramento Media Contacts: FBI Special Agent Nick Rossi (916) 977-2258 Sheriff's Sgt. James Lewis (916) 874-5021

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