But this month, Fox Network's America's Most Wanted plans to post on its Web site his photo and information related to a car crash that killed 14-year-old Brenda Reyes of Merced and Kristen Johnson, also 14, of Atwater.
The TV show claims credit for the capture of 861 of 2,914 profiled fugitives since it first aired in 1988.
"Putting millions of eyes of the viewers on a particular case naturally brings more attention to it," said show spokesman Avery Mann.
But producers receive hundreds of letters and phone calls from victims each week that don't make it onto the program, Mann said.
That's where the Web site, which gets about 50,000 hits daily, can help.
The Solis case, submitted by the Reyes family, is one of 31 unresolved cases based on viewer mail to be featured on the site in October.
Leanne Johnson, Kristen's mother, said she gave her permission for the publicity and provided a photograph last week, after what she says has been a long and frustrating year.
On Oct. 9, 2004, Solis, then 21 years old, allegedly steered his out-of-control 1996 Ford Mustang into an electric pole south of Merced on Gerard Avenue, causing it to flip.
He then allegedly fled the scene and falsely reported his car as stolen. Witnesses identified the man from Hornitos as the car's driver while he was filing the report. Police apprehended and booked Solis at the Merced County Jail.
Reyes was pronounced dead when she arrived that night at Mercy Medical Center Merced's Community Campus and another passenger was treated for minor injuries.
Kristen, whom Leanne said friends dragged to Mercy's emergency room after a group of partygoers who were traveling in a caravan with the Mustang dropped her off on the street near the hospital, died 10 days later. She received care at Doctor's Medical Center in Modesto.
Solis paid the $10,103 bail on the vehicular manslaughter charge and was released the day after the accident.
Kristen's doctors told Leanne Johnson her daughter could have lived if she hadn't been jostled around so much following the accident, she said.
At the Feb. 17, 2004 arraignment, the Merced County District Attorney's office charged the truant Solis with a felony hit-and-run, two counts of vehicular manslaughter, and one count of each: Making a false police report, no proof of insurance, and failure to appear in court. He now has a $250,000 warrant for his arrest.
Afterward, Leanne Johnson and Reyes family members posted pictures of the alleged criminal in Delhi, where they believed Solis was staying. Their quick removal made Leanne suspect they may have targeted the right area, she said.
"All of us have been hounding the DA, have been hounding the CHP," Leanne said. "And then this TV show comes in and we get a phone call back that this is their first priority."
But with few solid leads, CHP investigators haven't been able to pinpoint Solis' location, said Officer Shane Ferreira.
"That's where a show like this can help," he said.
The show's Web site is www.amw.com.
Mann said they have not yet determined an exact date that the Solis case would be posted.
Reporter Liz Fox can be reached at 385-2472 or lfox@mercedsun-star.com.
