Salt Lake City, UT – A suspect wanted in one of the most merciless, senseless murders in this city’s history has been captured in his native Mexico. U.S. Marshals today announced the arrest of “Top 15 Most Wanted Fugitive” Miguel Mateos-Martinez near Ensenada, Mexico last Sunday evening.

The arrest of Mateos-Martinez, 20, by an Agencia Federal de Investigacion (AFI) squad took place without incident near a residence where the fugitive was staying. The Marshals worked with Mexican authorities to develop leads which pinpointed Mateos-Martinez’s whereabouts. Much of the information provided Mexican authorities on Mateos-Martinez was the result of a joint investigative effort involving the Salt Lake City Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Attorneys Office and the Salt Lake District Attorneys Office. Mateos-Martinez was transported to - and is currently being held - in a Mexico City prison.

While committing an armed robbery in Salt Lake City, Miguel Mateos-Martinez allegedly shot a store owner to death, despite her full cooperation with his demands for money. This crime was particularly brutal as the proprietor was shot in front of her two young siblings. This cold-blooded killing prompted the Marshals to add Mateos-Martinez to their “15 Most Wanted Fugitive” list in March this year.

Mateos-Martinez is a documented member of the local Los Mexicana Locos Sureno street gang in Utah, with a violent criminal record despite his youth. He was wanted in the District of Utah for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution with an underlying state charge of aggravated murder and armed robbery. The driver of the get-away car used in this crime was arrested shortly after the crime.

“Once again, we are greatly appreciative of the extraordinary efforts made by Mexican authorities in apprehending one of our most wanted fugitives,” said United States Marshals Service Director John Clark. “The unimaginable crime committed by this individual assured that wherever he went he would be pursued. As many fugitives have learned in recent months, Mexico is no safe haven from justice.”

For more information, go to the U.S. Marshals web site at www.usmarshals.gov.  

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