Hunt ends : Murder suspect found in Fayetteville
Posted on Saturday, July 19, 2008
ROGERS - Less than 48 hours after Sergio Morales-Carrera, 23, allegedly killed his cousin's wife, police have him in custody, and he hadn't gone far from home.
Even though some officers, including Police Chief Steve Helms, worried that the suspect had fled to Mexico, Morales-Carrera was caught at about 2 p.m. Friday in Fayetteville.
Morales-Carrera allegedly shot and killed Veronica Robles, 37, at her home at 2606 Graham Drive, where the accused killer had also been living.
At about 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to police, Morales-Carrera fired multiple shots from a. 45-caliber handgun into Robles, who was his cousin's wife. The victim's husband was out of town Wednesday.
Following the shooting, police said, Morales-Carrera stole his cousin's vehicle and left. The vehicle was found Thursday morning in Springdale.
Rogers Police Department Lt. Mike Johnson said Morales-Carrera was arrested after Rogers detectives found him in a vehicle at 3110 Ika St. Johnson said detectives were in that area looking for the suspect under the jurisdiction of a mutual-aid agreement with Fayetteville police.
Detectives did locate a weapon, which has been sent to a lab for testing, but Johnson could not confirm if it was used in the murder.
The suspect was taken to the Benton County Jail, where he is being held for a probable cause and bond hearing, set for 9 a.m. Monday.
Johnson said investigators still have to confirm Morales-Carrera's identity because he could use other aliases, but Johnson added that police have the right man in custody.
Morales-Carrera now faces a capital murder charge, which, upon conviction, carries a punishment of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
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