Thread: NY:Illegal alien charged with murder of teen sister-in-law

Illegal alien charged with murder of teen sister-in-law
February 21st, 2011 7:38 pm ET

Dave Gibson
Immigration Reform Examiner


Katherine Sanchez and Carlos Cardenas
Photo: Orleans County Sheriff's Office

On Friday, the body of 15-year-old Katherine Sanchez was recovered in an apple orchard in Orleans County, New York. The girl had been missing for over a month.

Her brother-in-law, Carlos Cardenas, 21, has been charged with her murder. He once worked in the orchard where the girl’s remains were unearthed.

According to Albion Police Chief Dean London, the Mexican national admitted to strangling the girl to death back on January 15. He was reportedly worried that she would tell her sister that he had raped her.

An autopsy confirmed the victim was suffocated.

Police said that they viewed Cardenas as a suspect from the day Sanchez disappeared, but did not announce it because of his illegal status and fear that he would flee to Mexico.

Chief London told reporters: “I want to emphasize the news of her disappearance was not circulated by law enforcement because the defendant, who has been the suspect since the matter was reported to us, was not in custody and our concern was that news of the victim’s disappearance would hinder our investigation.â€

Missing after babysitting, police say Albion teen ran away; later found murdered

February 21st, 2011 12:09 am ET

ALBION, New York -- Last month a 15-year-old Albion teen went to babysit for her older sister, and when her sister returned, she was gone.

Before she left, Kimberly Cardenas had a fight with her 21-year-old husband, Carlos Cardenas. She left her young child home with her sister, Katherine Sanchez, and asked her to babysit as she'd done many times before. When she came home and Katherine was gone, she asked Carlos where she was. Carlos said he didn't know.

The next day Kimberly went to her mom's house and realized Katherine hadn't come home. Her mom thought she'd stayed over at Kimberly's house. When they realized she was missing and that her coat and cell phone had been left behind they began to panic.

They called police to report her missing, police instead classified her a runaway.

“The police, they just thought she ran away with a boy,â€

Carlos Cardenas charged with slaying of Albion teen
10:42 PM, Feb. 19, 2011

# Police releasing new details tonight about body found in Albion

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a teenager who had been reported missing in Albion.

According to Albion village police, Carlos Cardenas was charged late Friday night with second-degree murder in the death of his sister-in-law, Katherine Sanchez, 15. Police said the incident took place in the village.

Albion police had issued a news release Friday stating that Sanchez had not been seen since Jan. 14.

An investigation involving several agencies led to the recovery of a body believed to be Sanchez, Albion police said Saturday. The body was taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office.

Cardenas was arraigned Friday night and is scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. Thursday in Albion Town Court.

Police didn't release any more details, saying the investigation is ongoing and a news conference would be held when additional information from the Medical Examiner's Office is released.

A notice on the Albion Central Schools' website said counselors will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Charles C. D'Amico High School.


http://www.democratandchronicle.com/art ... /1002/NEWS

Police: Man Admits Killing Sister-In-Law

Published: 2/21 2:34 am
Updated: 2/21 9:03 am

Albion, N.Y.- Albion police painted a dreary picture of the final moments of Katherine Sanchez's life. The15-year-old high school student was strangled to death by her brother-in-law Carlos Cardenas on January 15, according to Police Chief Dean London.

Police said Katherine had been missing for several days before authorities were notified. Cardenas was a suspect early in the investigation, according to London. Authorities said that Cardenas was in the country illegally from Mexico and was a potential flight risk. For that reason, they waited to release information on the matter.

Carlos Cardenas was formally arrested and arraigned February 18. According to London, Cardenas admitted killing Sanchez. Police said Cardenas left her body in an apple orchard on Howlett Road in Ridgeway, N.Y. roughly a month before his arrest.

In the days leading up to Sunday's news conference, Sanchez's family members voiced anger at Cardenas, but also at police for treating Katherine's disappearance as that of a runaway. Police countered by saying Cardenas was a suspect since day one, but they were investigating his background and gathering evidence prior to the arrest. Police also said they were concerned their suspect would flee the country.

After explaining that to Cardenas' wife, Kimberly, she said later that she agreed with the way it was handled. "To me, I understand them...he would have left, he would have escaped."

Kimberly said the couple has a one-year old son, Her focus now is to take care of him and hopes that Carlos Cardenas remains far from the family.

Cardenas is in Orleans County jail without bail. He is charged with second degree murder, but authorities believe he sexually assaulted the 15-year-old.

Also, other charges are possible, according to the district attorney's office. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday at Albion Town Court.

Counselors will be available for classmates of Katherine Sanchez at the high school Monday. The school is off-session, but counselors will still be available to students.

Calling hours for Katherine Sanchez are Tuesday, 5 to 6 p.m. at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home, 21 W. Avenue Albion, N.Y.

A funeral service will follow calling hours. The public is welcome to attend.

http://www.13wham.com/news/local/story/ ... px?rss=102

[quote]“All that time she was missing, he was acting all casual with no remorse and no fear…he was just stone cold,â€

FEBRUARY 24, 2011, 3:39 P.M. ET
Brother-in-law pleads not guilty in NY teen death
Associated Press

ALBION, N.Y. — A 21-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to strangling his wife's teenage sister and burying her body in an upstate New York apple orchard.

Carlos Cardenas was charged with second-degree murder after the remains of 15-year-old Katherine Sanchez were unearthed last week. She'd been missing for a month.

With his crying wife, Kimberly, screaming at him in Spanish, Cardenas was shielded by Orleans County sheriff's deputies following his appearance in Albion Town Court Thursday.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle says Cardenas gave a statement to investigators. In it, he says he had sex with Katherine before the killing. Investigators say he strangled her to keep her from telling.

The case is now before an Orleans County grand jury.

Police say Cardenas is a Mexican national in the country illegally.

http://online.wsj.com