Don Fluitt Murder- The Life & Tragic Death of the Firefighter

Don Fluitt, a retired firefighter, met a tragic end in late 2016 at the hands of his ex-wife’s new husband. 

His story garnered attention, and on Saturday, March 19, 2022, Don Fluitt murder investigation was scheduled to be featured on Dateline Weekend Mystery.

Who was Don Fluitt?

Born on September 15, 1962, Don Fluitt was 54 years old when he was murdered.

Fluitt, a former Bernalillo County firefighter, was once married to Christine White. 

White and Fluitt were reportedly in a custody battle over their shared daughter, who was 11 years old at the time of his death. 

According to his obituary, Fluitt and his youngest daughter volunteered to feed the homeless each week at an event entitled Spaghetti Sunday. 

“There is no way to capture in words the tremendous positive impact Don had on this community,” the obituary reads.

He was born in Los Angeles, California, and had three children in total: Tiffany, Josh, and Siena.

The horrific crime

On December 29, 2016, Don Fluitt was found dead in his garage in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

After Fluitt’s daughter could not get a hold of him via telephone, two of his co-workers arrived at his home to check on him and located his body.

Identifying the perpetrator

Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera shows a man knocking over Fluitt’s garbage can and entering his garage.

DNA evidence found at the crime scene confirmed the man in the tape to be Christine’s new husband, Terry White.

White was arrested after attempting to commit suicide with his car while in Arizona.

Chilling confession in prison

While he was incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center, White reportedly told a fellow inmate his wife had encouraged him to kill Fluitt as a way “to protect his family.” 

The inmate added White “twisted his trachea, then slit his throat with a steak knife,” according to Abq Journal.

Christine White’s involvement

The authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of Christine White on June 14, 2017.

The police charged her with conspiracy to commit murder. 

According to police, Christine helped plan the murder of Fluitt with her husband.

Dropped charges

The court dropped the charges against Christine in April 2018.

A life cut short, justice elusive

The story of Don Fluitt’s tragic end leaves behind a sense of profound sadness and disbelief. 

A man dedicated to serving his community through his career as a firefighter, he was a father of three and actively involved in charitable work. 

The murderer took his life too soon.

His family is seeking justice for his untimely demise. 

The case, slated to be featured on Dateline Weekend Mystery, serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that can lurk within the lives of seemingly ordinary individuals, leaving behind shattered lives and unanswered questions.