Patricia Lykos, District Attorney

Harris County, Texas

August 13, 2009

Donna Hawkins

George Flynn

713-755-3320

DA Announces Arrests of Three Fugitives in Separate Murder Cases

Houston, Tx – District Attorney Patricia Lykos on Thursday announced that extradition proceedings will begin for two former fugitives arrested in Mexico on unrelated Harris County murder charges. Their arrests follow the capture of another murder case fugitive in Houston last week.

Esequiel Rios Villareal and Timoteo Rios were arrested Tuesday in the state of Michoacan. District Attorney’s Extradition Administrator Kim Bryant received information from Harris County Sheriff’s investigators that the two were living together in Mexico. Bryant, in coordination with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mexican government, helped confirm their identities and location, leading to the arrests.

Rios, 24, is accused of fatally stabbing Tina Davila during an April 16, 2008 robbery at a parking lot. Villareal, 42, allegedly killed his estranged wife, Benedicta Gonzales, by shooting her in front of their teenage son on February 16, 2006. They are being held for extradition back to Harris County to face trial on the charges.

The District Attorney’s Cold Case/Fugitive Apprehension Section worked with Crime Stoppers to secure the arrest of another fugitive murder defendant on August 6. Officers acted on a tip to capture Dasmin Pierre at a local discount store.

Pierre, 21, is charged with murder in the shooting that killed John Henry Matthews on March 15, 2007.

District Attorney Lykos created the Extradition unit and Cold Case/Fugitive Apprehension Section after she took office in January. Section Chief Russel Turbeville said the arrests reflect the success of the new units and priorities on capturing fugitives accused of violent crimes. He also credited the arrests to the close coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

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Last Updated: 8/13/2009