TASK FORCE DEPUTY NOMINATED FOR AMERICA’S MOST WANTED ALL STARS

San Antonio – The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force announces the nomination of Special Deputy United States Marshal Mark Benavidez as an America’s Most Wanted All Star. Deputy Benavidez has been a decorated member of Bexar County Sheriff’s Office for fourteen years, spending three of those years assigned to the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force. During his time with the Task Force Deputy Benavidez was highly regarded for dedication to duty. Presently Deputy Benavidez is recovering from a catastrophic knee injury which occurred during the pursuit of a wanted murderer.

Deputy Benavidez’s nomination is a result of his outstanding police work in the apprehension of Thomas Edward Doyle. Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputies had gone to Doyle’s San Antonio apartment to arrest him for sexual exploitation of a minor. Deputies discovered that Doyle had made a reservation for a Costa Mesa, California hotel on that very day. Deputy Benavidez was able to learn the flight that Doyle had taken to California and arranged for Deputy United States Marshals to arrest him as he deplaned.

For the third year in a row, America’s Most Wanted has teamed up with Sprint Nextel to find a way to honor first responders with the AMW All-Star Awards. Through online voting, members of the community recognize one All-Star Finalist each week through mid-April. Log on to the America’s Most Wanted web site at amw.com to cast your vote for our local hero. Anyone can vote and it is important to vote once a day. The All-Star who receives the most votes in a week is selected as a Finalist. Finalist will be profiled on the America’s Most Wanted television show, and they receive an AMW duffle bag filled with AMW gear. Finalists will be entered in the voting for the grand prize: $10,000 and a trip to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series™ All-Star Challenge in May.

The United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas LaFayette Collins said, “Deputy Benavidez is a talented, hard working investigator who spends every day of his professional life protecting our community.”