Thread: Man accused of killing extradited | Jesus M Acosta, Saul L Acosta, Trinidad C Acosta

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4045747&nav=HMO6

A man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend's family, kidnapping his children and fleeing to Mexico was extradited Friday to the United States to face charges.

Rodrigo Cervantes Zavala is accused of killing the children's grandparents and uncle in Queen Creek in July. Authorities say he then fled to Mexico with the children, who were 19 months and 3 years old. Cervantes and the children were found near Puerto Vallarta about a week after the killings.

The children, who are U.S. citizens, were returned to their mother, Oneida Isabel Acosta, shortly after they were found.

Acosta's 17-year-old brother, Jesus Manuel Acosta, and her parents, Saul Lopez Acosta and Trinidad Castro Acosta Roman, were found shot to death in their Queen Creek home after deputies responded to two 911 hang-up calls on July 10.

A judge in Mexico recommended that Cervantes be sent back to the United States to face trial. Cervantes did not fight extradition, said Carlos Flores Vizcarra, Mexican consul general in Phoenix.

Maricopa County prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole to secure Cervantes' extradition. Mexico typically does not extradite its citizens if they can face either punishment.

Bill FitzGerald, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, said if convicted of murder, Cervantes could get up to 25 years in prison for each of the killings.

Cervantes will likely face murder, kidnapping and other charges.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said the return of a suspect from Mexico in just three months is "probably unprecedented."

Flores said the case should serve as a warning to others who think they can commit crimes in the United States and then "find haven on the other side of the border. That is not the case."

Moving to Americans Killed by Illegals forum.