San Antonio, TX – The Lone Star Fugitive Task
Force sponsored by the United States Marshals Service is announcing the arrest
of Lee Roy Suarez.
Suarez was wanted by the Comal County Sheriff’s Office for the homicide of Diego
Saenz and aggravated assault of his brother, Vicente Saenz. On November 20,
2004, law enforcement authorities say Diego and Vicente were hanging out at an
apartment complex visiting a friend of theirs. Vicente had issues with Suarez's
cousin, and Suarez had apparently come to pick a fight in his cousin's honor.
Witnesses say the two exchanged some nasty words before Suarez split.
Authorities say that when Suarez returned, he had two other men with him. A
fight ensued and in a fit of rage Suarez took it one step further when he
brandished a knife and allegedly stabbed Diego to death. Fearful for his life,
authorities say Vicente struggled to get away from Suarez. But during the
struggle, authorities say Vicente was stabbed in the buttocks. Unlike his
brother, Vicente survived the fight.
Authorities say Vicente was able to identify Lee Roy Suarez and his two pals who
started the fight. The others, Christopher Andrew Ortiz and Adrian Guerrero,
were quickly taken into custody and charged. Both were convicted, sentenced and
sent to prison. Up until this date, Suarez had remained a fugitive from justice.
The Comal County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the United States
Marshals Service. Suarez was aired several times on the nationally syndicated
television show, America’s Most Wanted. The countless man-hours finally paid off
when members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force along with Mexico authorities,
Agencia Federal De Investigacion of Mexico City, were able to track Suarez to
San Nicholas, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Investigative efforts revealed that
soon after the homicide, Suarez fled to Mexico, assumed another identity, was
arrested on at least one occasion by Mexico authorities, but was released before
his true identity could be determined. Suarez married and fathered three
children.
Still, U.S. authorities continued to pursue Suarez. Suarez was again tracked to
Mexico, this time to the region of Monterrey, Mexico. The United States Marshals
contacted the Agencia Federal De Investigacion. Mexico authorities worked
tirelessly throughout this investigation and based upon information shared by
U.S. authorities were finally able to locate and apprehend Suarez, who now
awaits extradition back to Texas.
Robert R. Almonte, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas said,
“We commend and thank the Mexico authorities, more specifically the Agencia
Federal De Investigacion of Mexico City. The cooperative efforts between our two
countries, clearly demonstrates our resolve to doggedly pursue dangerous
criminal and bring them to justice. Furthermore, we hope this arrest brings some
closure to the Saenz family and the Comal County community.”
Agency members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force participating in this arrest
are as follows: Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, Bexar County Sheriff’s
Office, Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, San
Antonio Independent School District – Police Department, San Antonio Police
Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal
Justice – Office of Inspector General, Texas State Attorney General’s Office –
Sex Offender Fugitive Unit and the United States Marshals Service.
Additional information about the U.S.
Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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