U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Edward Salas Arrested in Mexico

U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitive Edward Salas was arrested today in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico, by the Policia Federal Ministerial in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service.

“Many New Mexico communities will breathe a sigh of relief because fugitive Salas, a child killer, will no longer outrun the justice that is long awaited,” said Conrad E. Candelaria, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico. “On behalf of the Marshals Service I extend heartfelt and sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones impacted by the horrible crime committed by Salas and other accomplices. This is another example of the extraordinary efforts by the Marshals Service, in partnership with many law enforcement agencies efforts to pursue those fugitives who strike at the core of our communities.”

Salas was taken into custody based upon the issuance of a Provisional Arrest Request from the United States, which seeks his extradition to New Mexico. The U.S. Marshals Service worked closely with the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the Curry County (NM) District Attorneys Office.

Salas was added to the Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list in December 2011. A convicted child killer, Salas escaped from the Curry County Detention Center in Clovis, New Mexico, in August 2008, and had been on the lam ever since. At the time of his escape, he was serving a life sentence plus 56 years for his role in the murder of 10-year-old Carlos Perez. “

The U.S. Marshals employed every available resource to track down Salas, so we can return him to his prison cell where he will serve the remainder of his sentence,” said David Harlow, Assistant Director for Investigative Operations. “I thank the Mexican authorities for their invaluable cooperation and assistance on bringing this fugitive to justice.”

On Sept. 15, 2005, Salas, along with his brothers Orlando Salas and Demetrio Salas and two other individuals, planned to murder Ruben Perez during the night, reportedly in retaliation for an argument that occurred earlier that day at the Clovis High School. Instead they killed his brother, Carlos, who was sleeping in the same bedroom. The child died just one day before his 11th birthday.

After his escape nearly three years into his prison term, Salas made his way to Friona, Texas, where he stayed under the radar until Nov. 27, 2008, when he was spooked from his hideout by law enforcement activity in the area.

Salas is the second 15 Most Wanted fugitive apprehended in Mexico in the past three months. In July, Vincent Legrend Walters was apprehended in Cancun, Mexico, after being on the Marshals most wanted list for nearly 24 years.

Another international fugitive, Noe Torres, was also arrested in Mexico earlier this year in Mexico. Torres is also charged with the same 2005 murder of 10-year-old Carlos Perez as Salas. In 2005, Torres fled Clovis prior to prosecution and remained on the run for nearly six years. Torres was taken into custody in Chihuahua, Mexico, outside of a religious compound in the first week of January and extradited to the United States in July.

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

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