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Crimes Against Law Enforcement Officers by Illegal Aliens or Those Who Have Fled to Mexico

Deputy Don Willmon, Angelina County Texas Sheriff’s Department
Murdered May 13, 1979

On May 13, 1979, Deputy Willmon approached Alvaro Rodarte and began questioning him about a burglary that had taken place in the area. During the encounter, a struggle ensued and Rodarte stabbed Deputy Willmon numerous times. Rodarte then fled to Mexico where he remained a fugitive for 24 years. On August 29, 2003, Rodarte was arrested in Zacatecas. He will be prosecuted for the murder of Deputy Willmon in Mexico under Article IV of the Mexican Federal Penal Code. If convicted, he could have been sentenced to prison for 2-60 years; however on September 4, 2003 a Mexican court ruled that the statute of limitations had run and Rodarte was acquitted and released.

[Note: If this were a California case, the acquittal would forever bar prosecution and Rodarte would be free to live in either country without fear of arrest or prosecution.]

Officer Kenneth Collins, 33, Phoenix Police Department
Murdered May 27, 1988

Officer Collins was shot and killed in an off duty incident as he attempted to thwart a robbery while working as a security guard at Valley National Bank in Phoenix, Arizona. Ismael Conde was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 280 years in prison.

Co-defendant, Rudy Romero fled to Mexico where he remained at large for 12 years before being wounded in a shootout with police. He was then arrested on the outstanding murder warrant. Mexico refused to extradite unless Texas waived the death penalty. The paperwork was begun but before the extradition request was approved, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that any life sentence was unconstitutional and the SRE refused to extradite unless additional assurances of a determinate term were given.

On November 1, 2002, thirteen years after the murder of Officer Collins, Romero was extradited from Mexico. He has since been convicted and sentenced to 98 years in prison. Both the death penalty and life sentences had to be waived in order to secure extradition. Romero is eligible for parole.