Zinkhan featured on ‘America’s Most Wanted’

Athens — The case of accused triple-murderer George Zinkhan III is getting attention from a high-profile crime fighter.

Zinkhan, wanted for allegedly gunning down his wife, Marie Bruce, and two men in Athens last Saturday, is now a featured fugitive on the Fox Broadcasting show “America’s Most Wanted.” His story, photo and profile are listed on the popular show’s Web site and he may be featured in a segment on the show when it resumes its broadcast on May 16 if he remains on the loose.

Photo courtesy of Athens-Clarke County Police Department

This is the latest photo released by authorities of fugitive George Zinkhan.

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“They actually called me,” Capt. Clarence Holeman of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said. “I was going to call them and they beat me to it. They called me yesterday.”

Holeman said Athens police were more than happy to particpate.

“They’ve had over a thousand captures on America’s Most Wanted,” he said. “We’re glad to have the exposure because we really need to find George Zinkhan and this is one the better outlets to do that with. So I’m just happy to be in partnership with them.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said Zinkhan is also being considered for the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.

“The nomination process is currently under review for him to be included,” Jones said Thursday morning. “First there has to be an opening; second, the type and caliber of the case is considered, the importance and impact, etc. That determines whether he goes on.”

The FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List currently includes Osama Bin Laden and James J. Bulger, an organized crime member accused of 19 murders and numerous other felony offenses.

Jones, who is leading the FBI’s manhunt for Zinkhan, thinks the inclusion of the “America’s Most Wanted” show is “a tremendous idea.”

“The success of that program over the many years it has been in existence gives it much wider audience across the world,” he said. “It’s international. Back at its inception, ‘America’s Most Wanted’ pretty much debuted using the FBI’s fugitives. We got on board with that program very early and have participated and nominated subjects to be debuted on that program a lot over the years.”

Authorities certainly can use the help.

Several witnesses identifed Zinkhan, a 57-year-old marketing professor, as the gunman who fatally shot Bruce and fellow Town and Gown theater members Tom Tanner and Ben Teague, outside of the Athens Community Theatre last Saturday. Zinkhan has not been seen since dropping off his two children at a neighbor’s house about 10 minutes later.

The funeral for Bruce, 47, was being held at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta today at 11 a.m., with an interment at Westover Memorial to follow. The memorial service for Teague, 63, will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the University of Georgia Chapel on North Campus in Athens. Tanner’s family has asked for details of his funeral to be kept private. Bernstein Funeral Home of Athens is handling.