Posted on 04/01/2006 5:10:37 PM PST by CedarDave
The Michael Astorga described in court and prison records is fiercely different from the one described by people who have known him for years.
A recent neighbor, now so afraid of Astorga's family that he wouldn't give his name, called Astorga courteous and a man of his word.
Today, Astorga, 29, is sought by authorities for two killings, including a Bernalillo County sheriff's deputy on March 22. Police say he shot Deputy James McGrane Jr., 38, once in the head, rather than be caught on an outstanding warrant for killing a long-time acquaintance in November.
<< snip >>
Friday afternoon, Lorraine Martinez, 48, was arrested on charges she helped Astorga run from the law. She was nabbed in a raid of the Department of Motor Vehicles office on San Mateo and Montgomery boulevards Northeast, said Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. David Knowles. Her arrest warrant is sealed so exactly how she helped Astorga isn't clear.
FBI agents arrested Astorga's wife Thursday, but the warrant is sealed, also.
Two men have also been charged with helping elude authorities. Nestor Vargas, 35, of Rio Rancho was charged Wednesday. He is a fellow prison gang member. The gang's culture requires members to help each other or face retaliatory harm, even death, from fellow gang members, according to gang experts.
Astorga's long-time friend, Martin Saiz, 29, was arrested Thursday. Saiz stood by Astorga at his wedding last year.
Saiz was one of the first people taken into custody for questioning after McGrane's shooting. Astorga was named the prime suspect about seven hours after the shooting and Saiz was taken into custody about five hours later.
The arrest warrants for Saiz and Vargas also have been sealed, so details of how police allege they helped Astorga flee are not available.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqtrib.com ...
Articles in the ABQ Tribune are free.
Tonight Astorga's story will air on "America's Most Wanted" on Fox affiliates nationwide.
Just a PING, one PING only.
I know it may have been posted , ain't anything against you Dave, but I didn't see the ABQ Presstitutes story on the life of the deputy who died serving his community .......
Without reading the Tribunes tribute to Astorga's life I'll just keep checking the hangouts in these parts for the murderer.....
Thanks for the updates....glad they are taking down his aid society network......
Sheriff White has been taking down all those who have a history of helping Astorga. I have never seen anything like it before. They are getting lots of tips and I suspect there are some old scores being settled via tips leading to the crackdowns.
The papers did have articles on McGrane's history. If you wish I'll hunt some up to email to you.
I figured that they had such on the Deputy. I just had not seen it....my fault, no ones but mine....
He came on the department after I had left so I didn't know the guy. No need to send the stories. Thanks for the offer anyway. First good thing I have heard of White doing . Swarm this guys friends and family with a world of hurt and someone will give him up quick !
Good deal !
Stay safe Dave !
L
Harrass harrass harrass....at work , home, at play and school.....not a minutes rest till they out this POS's location.
Then they sit there, sometimes for hours. It's euphemistically called 'crime prevention'. Then they'll take a long hard look at the property. If they think something ain't right, code enforcement gets a call. Building inspectors are called in to make sure everything is safe for the little darlings.
Eventually even the really stupid ones get the message and either cough up the desired information or they move on to greener pastures.
Whatever happens their little house of amateur pharmacology generally sees a sharp drop in business from a severe lack of customers. Crime in the area tends to plummet as well.
You take care now.
L
Yep.....mere presence is a bitch at times !!......:o)
Same for you and yours Lurker.....Stay safe !
MS-13?
Kill the SOB, after a major tune up.
I'm talking days of tune ups.
Heck weeks of tune ups.
Astorga caught in Juarez.
Just heard that. Thanks.
AWESOME.....Hope he caught a bullet !
No such luck.
BTW.....useless blarney stone / ponderosa trivia information for ya !
On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06......:o)
Sorry All I have for ya this PM.....I am off to bed ....Nite Slim !
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