Murder Suspect Found Working as Cop in Mexico Extradited to U.S. in Connection with 2004 Ohio Shooting: Authorities
A suspect in a shooting in Ohio that led to the death of one person has been apprehended by police, authorities shared. Antonio Riano, 72, has been extradited from Mexico almost 20 years after the shooting took place, People reported.
On December 19, 2004, witnesses claimed to have seen Riano and Benjamin Becarra getting into an argument at the Roundhouse Bar in Hamilton, CBS News reported. The alleged fight was then taken outside, where the suspect allegedly shot Becarra in the face, according to law enforcement officials.
Investigators also claim to have footage showing Riano buying bullets at a Walmart, a few hours before the shooting, CBS News reported. The murder weapon was also allegedly discovered beneath the floorboards in Riano's home.
"We had all the evidence we needed gathered," Mark Henson, a detective who was on the case in 2004 shared, CBS News reported. "We already had a direct indictment against him. It was just a matter of waiting to find him."
Riano first escaped to New Jersey and then to his hometown of Zapotitlan Palmas in Mexico, CBS News reported. The case went cold after no leads on Riano for years, and then Paul Newton, a former deputy on the case who now works for the Butler County Prosecutor's Office started taking an interest in the case.
Newton managed to track down Riano's Facebook account and found that he was living in Oaxaca, Mexico, working as a police officer at the Zapotitlan Palmas Police Department. CBS News reported.
In August 2024, Deputy U.S. Marshals took custody of Riano from Mexican authorities in Mexico City, the U.S. Department of Justice shared. He was transported to the Butler County Jail, where he remains.
"This type of apprehension would not be possible without the cooperation and due diligence of both the Prosecutor’s Office investigators, the United States Marshal Service, and the United States Department of Justice," said Michael T. Gmoser, Butler County Prosecutor.
Riano has been charged in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas for the shooting death of Becarra, the U.S. Department of Justice stated. The suspect allegedly denied his involvement in the murder to officials, CBS News reported.