Last Thursday, a 48-year-old man who had fled from a murder conviction for 22 years was brought back to the United States from Mexico to begin serving his 60-year sentence.

Adam Zachs' conviction arose from an incident in 1988 in which he shot a 29-year-old man outside a restaurant in West Hartford. The victim, who had been watching a college basketball game with his fiancé, had apparently made a joke which angered the offender, who shot the victim in the back after the two stepped outside. Sources said the two barely knew each other at the time of the murder.

At the time of his conviction, state law permitted an offender to post bail during an appeal. With the help of his aunt and father, Zachs posted a $250,000 appeal bond and fled to Mexico in 1989.

In February, authorities received a tip as to Zachs' location and arrested him at his home five hours northwest of Mexico City. According to police, Zachs had been operating a computer repair business, and had a wife and two children. On Wednesday, U.S. marshals brought Zachs back on a flight from Mexico City and drove him to Hartford. Sources said he appeared before Judge David P. Gold without an attorney to receive his sentence.

Zachs' 78-year-old father has already pleaded guilty in federal court to assisting his sign in fleeing the country and providing him money. Sources said the elderly man was could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, but likely will not serve more than six months. That sentence will begin in August.

The Zachs' case has received some notoriety over the years, and was a feature on "America's Most Wanted" on several occasions.

Source: Associated Press, "Killer returned from Mexico begins Conn. sentence," Dave Collins, 30 June 2011.