(TheIndependentStar.com) – In a mind-blowing discovery, a fugitive wanted for 20 years for a murder in Ohio, and known as “El Diablo,” or “The Devil,” has been found by US law enforcement to be working as a police officer in Mexico.
US Marshals have announced the arrest of Antonio Riano, who had forged a new life as a law enforcement officer in Mexico.
Known by the moniker “El Diablo,” Riano had been prominently featured on the Butler County Sheriff’s Office “Most Wanted” list due to his alleged involvement in a December 2004 homicide in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The case revolved around the tragic death of 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra, which led authorities to pursue Riano after he purportedly fled the United States to “avoid prosecution.”
The capture of Riano in Mexico at the end of last week marks a significant turn in the long-standing case, The Daily Caller reports.
Officials reported that Riano had been employed as a local police officer, a startling revelation given his fugitive status.
Following his arrest, he was extradited back to the United States, where he is currently detained at the Butler County Jail, awaiting the commencement of his trial proceedings.
Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser highlighted the collaborative effort that facilitated Riano’s apprehension.
“This type of apprehension would not be possible without the cooperation and due diligence of both the Prosecutor’s Office investigators, the United States Marshal Service, and the United States Department of Justice,” Gmoser said.
Riano faces charges of first-degree murder, a serious accusation that places the gravity of his alleged actions into stark relief, as reported by CBS News.
In a statement to WKRC-TV, Riano explained his decision to become a police officer, asserting that he “wanted to help the people of Mexico.”
The pursuit of Riano was marked by persistence and a twist of digital fate.
Former deputy Paul Newton, who initially worked on the Riano case in 2005, had subsequently joined the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office.
Newton resumed his involvement with the case in January 2024, and it was through his online searches that a breakthrough came.
Newton located Riano on Facebook, a discovery that left him momentarily without words.
“At first, I was speechless. Then, I think the second thing that came to mind was, ‘I got you!’” Newton recounted to WKRC.
The incident that precipitated these extensive legal proceedings took place at the Roundhouse Bar in Hamilton. It was there that Riano and Becerra reportedly engaged in a heated dispute that escalated tragically.
Security cameras captured what authorities believe shows Riano fatally shooting Becerra in the face, a grievous act that led to swift and severe consequences.
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