Antonio "El Diablo" Riano, charged with murder in Ohio 20 years ago, was apprehended in Mexico, where he had taken on an unexpected role as a police officer.
Fugitive suspect Antonio "El Diablo" Riano, who vanished after allegedly murdering a man outside an Ohio bar in 2004, has been apprehended in Mexico. Startlingly, he had joined the ranks of local police officers after fleeing the United States.
Fugitive Suspect Nabbed in Mexico Decades Later, Turns Out to Be Police Officer
Riano, now 62, was arrested in Zapotitlan Palmas and handed over to U.S. Marshals in Mexico City. The arrest was the culmination of a two-decade manhunt sparked by the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra outside the Roundhouse Bar in Hamilton, Ohio.
Witnesses recounted a heated argument between Riano and Becarra inside the bar, which escalated into a deadly encounter outside. Security footage captured the alleged murder, with Riano reportedly shooting Becarra in the face.
Fugitive Suspect Nabbed in Mexico Decades Later, Turns Out to Be Police Officer
Despite the incriminating evidence, including security footage and the discovery of the murder weapon in his Ohio home, Riano evaded authorities for years. He fled the country and eventually resurfaced in Oaxaca, his hometown in Mexico.
American detectives, undeterred, continued their pursuit and tracked Riano down through social media. They stumbled upon his Facebook page, revealing his employment as a police officer in the Zapotitlan Palmas Police Department.
Fugitive Suspect Nabbed in Mexico Decades Later, Turns Out to Be Police Officer
"I'm like, 'My God, there he is!'" exclaimed Paul Newton, a former deputy involved in the case. "A little bit grayer, a little bit older, but it was him."
Upon being taken into custody at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Riano denied killing Becarra. However, authorities maintained confidence in the evidence they had gathered, including the security footage of Riano purchasing bullets hours before the shooting.
Fugitive Suspect Nabbed in Mexico Decades Later, Turns Out to Be Police Officer
"We had all the evidence we needed gathered," stated Detective Mark Henson, who worked on the case in 2004. "We already had a direct indictment against him. It was just a matter of waiting to find him."
Riano's capture marks a significant breakthrough for law enforcement, as he had eluded capture for two decades. He remains in custody and will face prosecution for the murder of Benjamin Becarra.
Becarra's family, who had long sought justice, has been notified of Riano's arrest and extradition. The case serves as a testament to the tenacity of detectives and the importance of international cooperation in apprehending fugitives.
