Free Republic

A relative of an elderly Omaha woman who was raped and killed last year said Saturday that the brutal crime may have been prevented if the United States strictly enforced immigration laws. “What we’d like to have is the federal government to secure our borders,” said Bill Hartzell, 60, of Council Bluffs. “There’s a chance my grandmother would be still alive if our borders were secured.” Hartzell is the husband of Teresa Hartzell, a granddaughter of 93-year-old Louise Sollowin. Sollowin died three days after Sergio Martinez- Perez, a Mexico native in the U.S. illegally, broke into her South Omaha home,...

A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder in the rape and beating death last summer of a 93-year-old Omaha woman, in a deal that spared him the death penalty. Sergio Martinez-Perez, 20, entered the plea in Douglas County District Court and was immediately sentenced to life in prison. The public defender for Perez did not immediately return a message left Wednesday seeking comment. Police said Perez broke into the south Omaha home that Louise Sollowin had lived in for 70 years in the early hours of July 21, and severely beat her and raped her. Sollowin had grown up...

<p>The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), an anti-amnesty organization, will be holding a rally and vigil in Omaha, NE, for Louise Sollowin, the 93-year-old woman who was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant. Sergio Martinez-Perez, a 19-year-old illegal alien is on trial in Nebraska for allegedly murdering Sollowin on July 24th of this year. The rally and vigil will coincide with court proceedings in the case across the street.</p>

Little is known about Sergio Martinez-Perez, who is accused of killing a 93-year-old Omaha woman and is in the United States illegally. Martinez-Perez, 19, was formally charged Friday with first-degree murder in the rape and slaying of Louise Sollowin. He is a native of Sonora, Mexico. Shawn Neudauer, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Friday that federal authorities have placed a detainer on Martinez-Perez. That means that if Douglas County authorities were to release him, he would be placed in ICE custody. Neudauer said he couldn't comment on the specifics of Martinez-Perez's immigration status, citing agency policy....

A teenager will now face first-degree murder charges in connection with the rape and death of a 93-year-old South Omaha woman. Autopsy results indicated that Louise Sollowin died of complications due to blunt-force trauma to her head and body, according to Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine. Sergio Martinez-Perez, 19, who had faced first-degree sexual assault charges, will be arraigned on the murder charges in Douglas County Court at 1 p.m. Friday, Kleine said. SNIP Omaha police say they found Martinez-Perez naked and on top of Sollowin. He had beaten her, sexually assaulted her and broken several bones in her face...