Posted on 06/10/2005 10:45:27 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
An El Cenizo man, one of two charged in connection to the alleged kidnapping, beating, and sexual assault of an unidentified Honduran woman, was arrested this week by Webb County Sheriff's investigators.
Authorities have now initiated a manhunt for a second suspect, who is also from El Cenizo.
Luis Eduardo Mendoza, 39, who resides at the 500 block of Rodriguez Street, was arrested Tuesday and charged with aggravated kidnapping, a felony one. He was remanded to Webb County jail under a total $100,000 bond set by Justice of the Peace Ricardo Rangel.
Authorities say Mendoza, along with one other El Cenizo man, 34-year-old Rodolpho Hernandez, who resides at the 500 block of Rosales Street, victimized and tormented a young female then plotted to kill her.
The female reportedly told authorities she crossed the border illegally last Thursday and was seeking work.
When the two men offered her work, she was grateful, officials said.
"She left with (them), believing (they) had come to her aid," stated Sheriff Rick Flores, in a written statement released Wednesday.
But that was not the case.
According to the release, the suspects "took her to a house, locked her in a room, then knocked her unconscious," Flores explained.
The men then proceeded to sexually assault her while she was unconscious.
Each time she regained consciousness, she was beat again, she told authorities.
In an unguarded moment, she managed to flee from her captors.
She later told authorities she overheard the two men plotting to kill her and throw her body in the river.
Authorities are now on the lookout for the second suspect, Hernandez.
Webb County Sheriff's deputies said the man also goes by the alias Alfredo Hernandez, Angel Tapia, or "Fito" and is the main suspect in the investigation. Authorities have already obtained two warrants for Hernandez's arrest for aggravated kidnapping, a felony one, and sexual assault, a felony one.
During a telephone conversation, El Cenizo Mayor Raul Reyes said he was outraged that he had not been notified of the investigation earlier.
"Now that we know about it, I am going to instruct the El Cenizo police department to be on the lookout for the suspects responsible," he said. "We are going to do everything in our power to help."
Anyone with information on Hernandez's whereabouts is urged to contact the Webb County Sheriff's Department.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (8477) and be eligible for a cash reward, Flores said.
(Celina Alvarado can be reached at (956) 728-2566 or celina@lmtonline.com.)
"charged in connection to the alleged kidnapping, beating, and sexual assault"
In Detroit we call that a date...
Find Fito Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
ol' hoghead
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