LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Joe Baeza,

Laredo Police Department held a press conference today at Police Headquarters to announce the arrest of a 16 yr. old male for the Capital Murder of 2 yr. old Katherine Cardenas.  Attending the press conference were Chief Carlos Maldonado and his command staff along with Captain Maria Peres in charge of the Criminal Investigation Divisions and lead Investigator Greg Cantu; representing the city of Laredo were Honorable Mayor Raul Salinas, and City Manager Carlos Villarreal along with Deputy City Manager Cynthia Collazo; representing the Webb County Attorney’s Office were County Attorney Ana Laura Cavazos and Rolando Garza; Representing the Webb and Zapata County District Attorney’s Office were District Attorney Isidro “Chilo” Alaniz and his staff; representing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Investigations (ICE) Michael R. Hinojosa and Acting Assistant Agent in Charge Mark Dawson.

 Katherine Cardenas was found lifeless outside her west Laredo home after being reported initially as missing.  The Laredo Police Department’s Criminal Investigative Divisions all converged and began to investigate the case.  Dr. Corrine Stern conducted an autopsy on the young victim and worked with detectives on a cause of death.  Forensic evidence was collected and sent to the Bexar County Forensic Laboratory in San Antonio.  Also helpful in the case was Detective Greg Cantu’s specialized investigative forensic techniques that he acquired when he attended the National Forensic Academy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Several persons of interest were interviewed throughout the investigation, but a prime suspect was identified early in the case. While detectives waited on the forensic evidence results, the primary suspect left Laredo and went into hiding in Nuevo Laredo Mexico.

 When forensic lab results returned, the findings confirmed that the 16 yr. old male suspect was responsible for the murder of 2 year old Katherine Cardenas.  Now armed with the proof, detectives collaborated with ICE agents who along with the Policia Minesterial del Estado de Tamaulipas worked through the night and day trying to locate the suspect over several weeks.  Late last night on October 08, 2009 the Policia Minesterial located and detained the 16 yr. old suspect.  At approximately 1 am today, October 9, 2009, Mexican Authorities walked the suspect over International Bridge #1 and delivered him to ICE agents.  Laredo Police Investigators served the 16 year old with the detain order and placed him into custody.  The 16 year old suspect is now at a holding center in Duvall County, Texas.  The charge of Capital Murder does not carry a death penalty in this case because the offender is a juvenile.  At the press conference the Webb County Attorney stated that her office will be seeking to certify this juvenile suspect as an adult.  Once that process is complete the District Attorney will prosecute the case. 

Chief Carlos Maldonado would like to thank everyone who attended the press conference this morning on such short notice and especially to the Department of Homeland Security / Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Policia Ministerial del Estado de Tamaulipas, the Webb County Attorney’s Office, the Webb County District Attorney’s office, the Bexar County’s Forensic Lab, the Webb County Medical Examiner’s office, the City Manager’s Office, the Mayor’s Office, Laredo City Council Members, and to the Detectives of the Criminal Investigations Division and the other members of the Laredo Police Department and other Agencies who vested countless hours to get to this arrest, and most importantly to the Laredo Community for their patience and understanding throughout the duration of this case.