Accused child rapist arrest stalled

Updated: Thursday, 14 Jul 2011, 6:21 PM MDT
Published : Thursday, 14 Jul 2011, 5:48 PM MDT
Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez



SANTA FE (KRQE) - Detectives know the location of an accused child rapist who fled the U.S. But they say they are waiting for one document to be filed by the Santa Fe County District Attorney's Office so they can move forward with his arrest.

In March, an arrest warrant was filed for Mario Humberto Cortez-Del Cid, 28, for child rape and false imprisonment. He was in the country illegally.

Detectives said Cortez-Del Cid raped a 7-year-old girl up to 11 times during February and March 2011. Investigators said he was a family friend and was living with the girl's family during the time of the alleged assaults.

Investigators said after the girl revealed her traumatic secret he fled back to his home country of Guatemala.

Since then the girl's mother, Evanilia Monrroy has been stopping by the police station every week asking why he has not been arrested.

"I don't know why they haven't given that order that they need to extradite from there to here," Monrroy said.

Santa Fe Police Lt. Louis Carlos said he understands Monrroy's frustrations.

"She knows first-hand where he is at," Carlos said. "She is receiving information that he is in Guatemala."

Detectives said they have contacted the U.S. Marshals Serviceand the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department extradition team. However Carlos said they are still waiting for the indictment paperwork.

"That is required by the Attorney General's Office," Carlos said. "We have presented our case to the District Attorney's Office, and it has not been presented to the grand jury yet. Why? That's something the district attorney's office is going to have to answer."

That is a question Munrroy would like an answer to as well.

"She said, 'Mommy, but they haven't caught him. He is free,'" Monrroy said. "I tell her, 'Daughter, have patience.'"

As of Thursday evening the District Attorney's Office had not commented about the indictment.

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