U.S. Marshals

For Immediate Release
April 18, 2011
DUSM Ben Segotta, District of New Mexico
(505) 462-2330

3 Federal Inmates Escape from Luna County Detention Center

Las Cruces, NM – On April 17 at approximately 8:30pm the United States Marshals Service was advised by the Luna County Detention Center that 3 federal inmates had escaped. The three inmates were Alberto Grijalba-Murillo, 09/09/1971, Julio Mendoza-Acosta, 05/30/1960 and Mario Martinez-Rios, 12/21/1980. Initial reports say the three inmates escaped through a hole in a perimeter fence at the facility.

The Deming Police Department along with the United States Marshals Service from the Las Cruces office established a Joint command and are actively searching for the Escapees. Also involved in the search is the New Mexico State Police, Luna County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Border Patrol. K9 teams and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Helicopter were called in around 10:00 pm.

At approximately 05:26 am on April 18, 2011 the CBP Air and Marine Helicopter located two individuals hiding in the desert west of the Luna County Detention Center. The CBP helicopter guided law enforcement on the ground to the suspects’ location, and at approximately 05:30 am MENDOZA-ACOSTA and GRIJALBA-MURRILLO were arrested.

The U.S. Marshals Service and Local law enforcement are currently looking for the third escapee Mario Martinez-Rios, 12/21/1980. Martinez-Rios was originally in custody for charges of illegal entry into the United States. Anyone with information on Martinez-Rios should contact the United States Marshals Service in Las Cruces at 575- 527-6850.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov .

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http://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2011/041811.htm