Murder of Emily Sander - Apprehension

Apprehension

Police in Mexico apprehended the 24-year-old Israel Mireles on December 19, 2007, in Melchor Muzquiz, Mexico. He was subsequently charged in the U.S. with capital murder, rape and aggravated sodomy. When captured, Mireles was with his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend Victoria Martens. Although prosecutors promised to not file charges against her, Martens initially refused to return to Kansas.

According to Sandy Martens (the mother of Victoria Martens), her daughter had called her on November 24 to tell her Mireles had been involved in an altercation when another man attempted to rob him. Sandy Martens also claimed to have received a text message from her daughter days after the couple fled that said she "had a lot to tell her mother." Later the mother said she believed her daughter thought her trip with Mireles to Mexico was a vacation. Victoria later called home and was picked up at the border. She was taken to Texas, where she was put in juvenile custody. Because Mireles was suspected of impregnating Martens, he was also charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Because Mireles, who was in the United States legally, went to his home country of Mexico, there could have been added complications to the case. Before extraditing a suspect, Mexico requires that authorities submit the most serious charges that the suspect could face. Although the nation will not release someone who could face the death penalty, according to Boren, Mireles will not face the death penalty. The maximum penalty he could face would be life in prison without the possibility of parole. On June 26, 2009, the Associated Press reported that Mireles was back in the U.S. following extradition.