Attempted Murder Suspect Still At Large

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Erica Munoz

When 32-year-old Eric Hu was arrested for attempting to kill his girlfriend back in February 2007, it seemed like the last anyone would hear from him for awhile.  However, Hu was hatching a plan with friends to break him out of jail.

Cops tell AMW that Hu conspired with a fellow inmate, Christopher Mantano, at the San Joaquin County Jail.  Hu was able to procure a court date on April 9, 2007 at the County Courthouse which allowed him to meet up with Mantano and trade his orange jail-issued jumpsuit for Mantano's blue coveralls from the County Jail's minimum-security Honor Farm.  The new threads allowed Hu to simply walk off the property and into an awaiting minivan driven by Erica Munoz...the same girlfriend he tried to kill months before.

For the next two weeks, authorities in the San Joaquin area were on the lookout for Hu and seemed to always be one step behind him.  Finally on April 26, 2007, cops  apprehended Hu and another man, Robert Oki, at a traffic stop.  However, Hu made a break for it and crossed multiple lanes on the bustling Interstate 5 on foot before seeking refuge in an adjoining residential neighborhood.  The stunt had authorities closing the freeway and cordoning off local streets for hours as they went house to house.  Yet, there was no sign of Eric Hu.

Investigators learned that while they were hunting for the escapee, he was trying to commit residential robberies armed with a shotgun and also attempted an unsuccessful carjacking.  The very same day, an anonymous tip led police to Erica Munoz who currently awaits arraignment on multiple charged for her involvement in Hu's getaway.  Oki was also picked up by cops and arrested on conspiracy and weapons charges. 

Authorities in Stockton and the San Joaquin Valley are looking to put Hu back behind bars as soon as possible.  According to a Stockton Police spokesman, Hu is a "dangerous, desperate man." 

Eric Hu is described as a 32-year-old male of Pacific Island descent, 5'9", 175 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.  Police know that Hu loves gambling and may be frequenting Indian casinos in the Stockton area and beyond. 

Escapee Captured After Two Month Run

After months of eluding authorites and masterminding an escape from a San Joaquin, California courthouse, Stockton cops tell AMW that Eric Hu is back behind bars. 

Police say that Eric Hu was spotted on the 2400 Block of Church Street in Stockton, Calif. on Tuesday, June 12th, 2007.  Authorities say that Hu attempted to evade police by jumping fences but was unable to escape this time.   Hu resisted arrest and was finally taken into custody at approximately 4:30 pm.  Police say he was taken to a nearby hospital to receive some medical attention.  Hu is expected to be arraigned on June 13, 2007 at the very same courthouse he walked out of two months ago.