An illegal immigrant accused of killing his son-in-law, who was a Mexican police officer, was deported from Colorado to Mexico on Thursday, authorities said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents got an anonymous tip in January that the fugitive from Mexico was in Alamosa. Since then, they’ve worked with Mexican authorities to identify and arrest him.
Jose Luis Ventura-Molina, also known as Manuel Avila, is accused of killing Michoacan police officer Guillermo Menchaca-Escobar, who also was his son-in-law, authorities said.
Ventura-Molina fled to Alamosa after the 2001 homicide. He was detained by police in late 2004 on unrelated misdemeanor charges and was imprisoned until he was deported Thursday.
A review of ICE records shows Ventura-Molina was previously arrested and deported to Mexico under his assumed identity, but U.S. authorities were not informed of the homicide warrant from Mexico at that time. He later re-entered the U.S. and continued to live in Alamosa until his latest arrest.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.