ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A man who is wanted for killing his wife in December is still on the run, and authorities say he may be in the Tampa Bay area.
Fidel Fletcher, 47, has been wanted since Dec. 27 and is being looked for by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
He may be riding a black BMX-style bicycle wearing blue jeans and an older style green army-style jacket, Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay said in a news release.
He is described by law enforcement as 6-foot-1, weighs 190 pounds and has black hair with brown eyes.
Fletcher also goes by the name Neil, officials say.
Family members have identified the woman he allegedly killed as Nicole 'Nickie' Gates. Her sisters Bianca Anastasia and Tabitha Hunt spoke with 10 Tampa Bay from their home in Ohio, describing Nickie as warm and affectionate.
"She was always hugging and kissing us. And I do not like to be hugged," Anastasia joked. "And I was like, 'Nickie, stop!' She was a lover."
"She was very affectionate," Hunt agreed.
Her sisters tell 10 Tampa Bay that Nickie was seeking a fresh start after her husband died in 2022. She and her two young daughters moved from Ohio to Port Charlotte last year to be closer to Nickie's father. That's where she met and quickly married 46-year-old Fidel Fletcher.
Fletcher is undocumented and has a history of sexual assault and domestic violence charges.
"Unfortunately, Nickie was in a very vulnerable state because she had just lost her husband and she just wanted somebody to be there for her," Hunt explained.
"We just had this uneasy feeling this whole time," Anastasia added. "But we just didn't know how bad it was."
With Fletcher still on the run, Nickie's sisters said their family haven't been able to rest.
"We spend every hour on Google, just searching, 'Is there are any new updates?' It's like every second. We don't sleep, we're not breathing properly," Anastasia said.
They said an arrest won't mean justice, but it will allow some peace of mind.
"It won't take away from what's already done. I mean, it won't bring her back, but we'll be able to close that chapter and start our grieving process and breathe," Hunt said.
"Let's help law enforcement get this violent suspect behind bars for the murder of his wife," a news release from he sheriff's office reads.
Anyone who has seen the 47-year-old and knows any information on his whereabouts is asked to call Florida Crime Stoppers at **TIPS. People can also call 911 or the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information that leads to his arrest while the U.S. Marshals is offering $5,000, the news release mentioned.