For Immediate Release

Washington – The U.S. Marshals have added a suspected child killer to their 15 Most Wanted fugitive list. Simon Lopez is wanted for the murder of a 1-year-old child. Lopez, 26, has been charged in Tyler, Texas, with capital murder and assault.

Lopez was babysitting his girlfriend’s two young toddlers, ages 1 and 3, while she went to work on the morning of Nov. 23, 2010. Soon after, Lopez contacted the children’s aunt and notified her Jeremy Sylva, 1, was not breathing. Lopez then dropped the child off at the aunt’s house. The young boy was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.

The medical examiners determined he died from a torn atrium in his heart due to blunt force trauma to his chest. They also discovered other signs of abuse including strangulation, broken ribs and severe bruising over the child’s body.

“No criminal act is more disturbing than committing violence against a child, especially when the injuries inflicted are fatal,” said Geoffrey Shank, Acting Assistant Director of Investigative Operations for the U.S. Marshals Service. “His addition to the 15 Most Wanted program will enact all available resources to bring this violent fugitive to justice.”

Recent leads in this case led law enforcement to a hotel in Dallas. When officers from the Dallas Police Department attempted to apprehend Lopez, he struggled with the officers, unsuccessfully tried to take an officer’s weapon and managed to evade arrest. He is wanted in Dallas for assault on a public servant.

“Jeremy Silva was an innocent child, and this was a brutal crime of violence,” said Dan Phillips, Acting U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas. “Simon Lopez is a dangerous fugitive with a violent criminal history who is actively on the run, but we will find him. There will be justice for Jeremy.”

Lopez has an extensive criminal history including arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing bodily injury, unlawful carrying a weapon, possession of marijuana and theft.

Lopez is a white male of Hispanic descent, 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a mole on his forehead and a tattoo on his neck. Lopez is considered armed and extremely violent. 

A reward up to $25,000 is offered for information leading directly to Lopez’s arrest.  Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office or the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov

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