ATLANTA – Law officers quietly moved guests to safety at a Union City motel Thursday morning before bursting in and surprising a fugitive wanted in the slaying of his ex-wife in the Atlanta suburbs, federal agents said.
John Stephen Kristofak, 58, was apprehended early Thursday after a brief struggle, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. He is wanted on charges of aggravated assault and murder in the death of his 48-year-old ex-wife, Donna Nations Kristofak, authorities said.
In the pre-dawn hours Thursday, federal agents and officers from Cobb County and Union City had the motel under surveillance after a tip that Kristofak was inside. Once guests were safely moved away from the area, police showed up at Kristofak’s door, said Gavin Duffy, a supervisory inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service.
“He had no idea we were sitting outside until we actually arrested him,” Duffy said.
There was a brief struggle before Kristofak was taken into custody in his motel room, Duffy said, but no major injuries.