FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 22, 2015
Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216
The successful extradition of Estrada-Garcia marks the third in a month
Las Cruces, NM – Today, the U.S. Marshals Service booked wanted alleged murderer Eduardo Estrada-Garcia in a Dona Ana County jail after extraditing him from Mexico. The Border Violence Division of the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office worked with the U.S. Marshals Service, the United States Department of Justice and the Mexican government to bring Estrada-Garcia back to New Mexico to face an open count of murder for the alleged 2006 brutal murder of a Chaparral, New Mexico woman.
“I am pleased to announce that one of New Mexico’s most wanted fugitives is in custody today and will face an open count of murder after nearly a decade on the run in Mexico. I hope the return of this fugitive will provide some level of comfort to the family of Emely Corina Howard who have long awaited the return of Estrada-Garcia” said Attorney General Hector Balderas. “The Border Violence Division of the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office works diligently with investigators, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice and the Mexican government to return fugitives to New Mexico. The extradition process is lengthy and complicated, but offering critical support is one of the most important functions of the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. I want to thank the U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico, Conrad Candelaria, for his agency’s dedication to returning the most dangerous fugitives to stand trial in New Mexico and their willingness to collaborate with our office in those joint efforts.”
The United States’ extradition treaty with Mexico allows extraditions of violent offenders or child predators, and the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office is the only state agency in New Mexico that proides extradition support to local law enforcement.
Mario H. Cortez del Cid was extradited from Guatemala and Oscar Garcia Rivera was extradited from Mexico last month. Cortez del Cid was wanted on kidnapping and criminal sexual penetration of a minor under 13, and Garcia Rivera was wanted for attempting to commit a murder.
Please see attached for a photo and the grand jury indictment for Estrada-Garcia.
# # #