Joe Constance to be featured on America's Most Wanted

Published: Oct. 26, 2011 at 7:59 AM CDT|Updated: Oct. 29, 2011 at 3:27 PM CDT
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"Lights, camera, action!" - Words rarely heard in rural Cameron Parish, but for the crew of "America's Most Wanted" it's just another day on the job. They're latest assignment: the hunt for Joe Constance. You'll remember is what back on June 5th that authorities say Constance shot and killed his estranged wife Mary Duhon.

"He basically stalked, hunted and killed her. That's as cold-blooded as you can get," said Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso.

After he ditched his truck, the search for Constance would lead authorities to the border of Calcasieu and Cameron Parish, where he was believed to be on foot hiding in the woods. Nearly five months later authorities are certain he's not in the area. The U.S. Marshal's Office is assisting and have followed up several leads in Texas, but say the question remains where is Joe Constance?

"We don't have any evidence to suggest that he's not in the country. We don't have any evidence to suggest that he's left the country," said Deputy Corey Britt, U.S. Marshal's Office.

Having exhausted all leads, local authorities hope featuring the case on "America's Most Wanted" will help catch Constance. Reaching millions of viewers, AMW over the years has helped bring more than 1,100 criminals to justice.

With the help of area law enforcement, AMW field director Tony Zanelotti recreates the massive manhunt for Constance. One scene shows agents discovering his abandoned truck. As they span out into the fields cameras are catching their every move on the ground and in the air through the use of a helicopter.

Zanelotti is not only the director, but working with a producer he helps handpick the cases to profile.

"We narrow the field down by looking and reviewing all the police files. Everything from the warrants to the crime scene photos and then I develop a script and recreate different snapshots of what happened," said Zanelotti.

Working for "America's Most Wanted" Zanelotti has been all over the world and said this locale in the Cameron Prairie Wildlife Refuge definitely has its challenges.

"It's a little different. I never knew that Louisiana's state bird was the mosquito. But it's a great environment. I saw my first alligator. So it's been a great experience," said Zanelotti.

With all of the unsolved crimes, Sheriff Mancuso knows they're lucky to have caught attention of "America's Most Wanted."

"We are very thankful for this opportunity. I'm confident and I really do feel we like we are going to catch him," said Mancuso.

"We want to expose Joe Constance. We want to get his face out there in Montana, California, in New York, in Texas. We want the public to know he's a dangerous man on the run," said Britt.

The two-hour "America's Most Wanted" special featuring Joe Constance airs on FOX Saturday, October 29th at 7 p.m.

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