Murder suspect extradited from Mexico to Houston after 23 years on the run

HOUSTON – On Wednesday, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson joined law enforcement partners to discuss the return of a murder suspect who avoided prosecution for 23 years.

"This is a day that we've been waiting decades for," Anderson said.

Police said Alfredo Ramirez-Rojas killed Mildred Stallones, an 82-year-old retired school teacher. She was sexually assaulted and beaten to death in Aug. 1993.

"[Ramirez-Rosas] broke into her home, savagely beat her, sexually assaulted her, and strangled her in her bedroom," Anderson said.

Police got a break when a roommate of Rosas told authorities Rosas made incriminating statements. Rosas left the area and left behind bloody clothing that police were able to tie back to the murder.

He soon fled to Mexico and had been at large for years. The U.S. Marshals Service brought Rosas from Mexico City to Houston around noon Wednesday.

"Every time we received a tip as time where he was, he was gone," Anderson said. "He clearly had the jump on us every time," she continued.

Police in Mexico eventually arrested Ramirez-Rosas in 2013. Since then, he was being held in custody, as the Harris County District Attorney's Office put together a case for extradition.

"In an international extradition, I must prove that we have enough evidence to move to trial," said Kim Bryant, extradition administrator for the fugitive apprehension section of the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Rosas is charged with capital murder, but due to extradition laws, the death penalty had to be waived.

"She was 82 years old and lived in Tomball for 60 years peacefully until this monster occurred," said Leighton Stallones, Mildred Stallones' son.

Leighton Stallones said he and his family held out hope that Ramirez-Rosas would be brought to justice in the United States.

"We knew the process was going and had faith that it would certainly cultivate, but it was a very emotional, trying time," Stallones said.