Virginia fugitive, 46, who was featured on 'America's Most Wanted' two decades ago for stabbing his wife 33 times and abducting his daughter is arrested after a three-hour standoff in Florida

  • Michael Eugene Moore, 46, was arrested in Palm Coast, Florida on Saturday
  • Moore has had a fugitive warrant for his arrest for two decades after he stabbed his wife and abducted their five-year-old daughter in Virginia in 1996
  • He appeared on 'America's Most Wanted' as a result two decades ago 
  • He was stopped on Saturday when police detected him in a stolen vehicle
  • Moore refused to get out of the vehicle, which resulted in a three hour standoff with police 

By Emily Crane For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A fugitive who was featured on 'America's Most Wanted' 20 years ago has finally been arrested in Florida following a three-hour standoff with police. 

Michael Eugene Moore, 46, was arrested in Palm Coast, south of Jacksonville, on Saturday. 

Moore has had a fugitive warrant for his arrest in Virginia for two decades after he stabbed his wife and abducted their five-year-old daughter back in 1996. 

He was caught when Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputies signaled for him to stop on Saturday after a license plate reader detected him in a stolen vehicle.

Michael Eugene Moore, 46, was arrested in Palm Coast, Florida on Saturday (above) following a three-hour standoff with police

Michael Eugene Moore, 46, was arrested in Palm Coast, Florida on Saturday (above) following a three-hour standoff with police

The vehicle had been reported stolen during an earlier armed robbery in Virginia during which Moore allegedly tied up the female victim before fleeing with her car.

Moore was charged with grand theft and resisting arrest without violence in Florida. He is also being held as a fugitive from justice for Virginia authorities

Moore was charged with grand theft and resisting arrest without violence in Florida. He is also being held as a fugitive from justice for Virginia authorities

Authorities said Moore refused to get out of the vehicle or comply with demands. 

Deputies started evacuating homes as SWAT teams secured the immediate area. 

Three hours later, Moore surrendered without incident and was taken into custody. 

Moore has been on the run since March 1996 when he was featured on 'America's Most Wanted' for stabbing his wife 33 times and abducting his five-year-old daughter. 

His wife miraculously survived the attack.

Weeks later, the little girl was found safe in Miami after the child's photo appeared on the show. She was returned to her mother in Virginia. 

Moore remained a fugitive and had an active warrant for the assault and battery in Virginia. 

'This incident could have had a very different outcome,' Sheriff Rick Staly said. 

'This is a guy with an extremely violent history. We will never know what crimes we may have prevented by apprehending him. 

'I want to thank our citizens for their patience as we worked through this incident. I am very proud of our team and thankful that no one was injured and this violent offender is now in jail where he belongs.' 

Following his arrest on Saturday, Moore was charged with grand theft and resisting arrest without violence in Florida. 

He is also being held as a fugitive from justice for Virginia authorities.      

Authorities tried to stop Moore on Saturday afternoon (above) but he refused to get out of the vehicle or comply with demands. It resulted in a three hour standoff with deputies 

Authorities tried to stop Moore on Saturday afternoon (above) but he refused to get out of the vehicle or comply with demands. It resulted in a three hour standoff with deputies 

Following his arrest on Saturday, Moore was charged with grand theft and resisting arrest without violence in Florida
Following his arrest on Saturday, Moore was charged with grand theft and resisting arrest without violence in Florida

Following his arrest on Saturday, Moore (pictured in his own video) was charged with grand theft and resisting arrest without violence in Florida

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