CHARLOTTE (WJZY) – A man on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitive” list for the alleged murder of a Charlotte, North Carolina, woman has been found after nearly 10 years, according to FBI Charlotte officials.
Alejandro “Alex” Rosales Castillo was wanted for the 2016 murder of his ex-girlfriend, 23-year-old Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le. The two had worked together at a Charlotte restaurant before Ly Le lent Castillo money, the FBI said.
Ly Le’s vehicle was found abandoned at a bus station in Phoenix, Arizona, shortly after her body was discovered in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, on August 17, 2016.
The day prior, video from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seen below, allegedly showed Castillo, who was 17 at the time, crossing the border from Nogales, Arizona, into Mexico.
On Friday, the FBI’s Law Enforcement Attache Office in Mexico City worked with agents in Mexico to capture Castillo in Pachuca, Hidalgo. Officials said he was being detained in Mexico City pending extradition proceedings to North Carolina.
For nearly 10 years, FBI special agents and Charlotte Metro Police (CMPD) task force officers worked to develop leads to find Castillo.
“This case shows the power of collaboration among law enforcement agencies at every level,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Chief of Police Estella D. Patterson. “Working together, CMPD and our partners will go to great lengths to hunt fugitives down and ensure justice is served. This joint effort sends a clear message that those who commit violent crimes cannot outrun justice. Bringing this fugitive to justice makes Charlotte and other communities safer, and while nothing can heal the loss Sandy’s family has endured, we hope this step brings them some peace.”
Castillo was the 516th person to be placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
“Alejandro Castillo’s arrest is the fifth Ten Most Wanted Fugitive captured under this
administration and this FBI since last year – more than the entire previous four years combined.
That’s no accident. When you have an administration who gives law enforcement the support to
execute the mission, they get the job done like nobody else. This was outstanding work by our
Charlotte team, FBI Legat Mexico, local and federal partners, and partners in Mexico – and we
can now begin the process of delivering long-awaited justice for Sandy Ly Le’s family,” said
FBI Director Kash Patel.
Names that remain on the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list include former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who is wanted in connection with a drug-trafficking operation. Recently added to the list is true crime TV producer Mary Carole McDonnell, who was previously charged with portraying herself as an heiress to get millions of dollars from lenders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.