A U.S. MARSHALS MOST WANTED MAN'S SKULL FOUND MILES FROM FACILITY HE ESCAPED

FROM:  U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE 
November 17, 2014 Hector Gomez, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal
Western District of Texas ;
USMS Office of Public Affairs 
U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive’s Skull Found by Family Dog

Fugitive was serving time for multiple counts of child sexual assault
Washington – One of the U.S. Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted fugitives is no longer being sought after his skull was discovered only a few miles from the Texas facility from which he escaped in October 2013.

On Wednesday, after DNA confirmation and next-of-kin notification, U.S. Marshals confirmed that the human skull found in Del Valle, Texas, belonged to fugitive Kevin Patrick Stoeser, who had escaped from the Austin Transitional Center where he was serving the remainder of a 156-month sentence for four counts of child sexual assault and one count of possession of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to these charges in 2003.

On Sept. 8, a Del Valle resident contacted the Austin Police Department and reported that his golden retriever had found a human skull. Authorities and the medical examiner responded, and they determined that the skull was that of a Caucasian man with “short blond, military cut hair and a partial ear.” Local media quickly reported on the discovery.

“The physical description of the human skull and where it was found sparked U.S. Marshals interest in the case, because it was very similar to key facts concerning our fugitive investigation for Kevin Stoeser,” said Deputy U.S. John Clifton, the lead criminal investigator on the case.

That interest paid off. The U.S. Marshals worked with local authorities to have the skull sent to the Department of Forensic and Investigative Genetics at the University of North Texas for DNA testing. On Nov. 5, based on the university’s results, the Travis County medical examiner concluded the skull was Stoeser’s.

“With the untimely death of Stoeser, we can now bring closure to this case,” said Robert Almonte, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas. “On behalf of the United States Marshals Service, we appreciate the assistance of our law enforcement partners throughout the nation who contributed a great deal of time and energy to see this investigation through.”

The Austin Police Department continues to investigate what caused Stoeser’s death.

CONVICTED CHILD MURDERER EXTRADITED FROM MEXICO

FROM:  U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE 

U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Edward Salas Extradited From Mexico
Washington – U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitive and convicted child killer Edward Salas was extradited today from Mexico. Salas was returned to Curry County, New Mexico to serve the remainder of a previously-imposed prison sentence for murder.

Salas was arrested by Mexican authorities on Oct. 4, 2012 based upon a U.S. provisional arrest request, which sought his extradition to New Mexico. The U.S. Marshals Service worked closely with the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the Curry County (NM) District Attorney’s Office.

“Salas’ crimes were horrendous and his potential for continued violence made his arrest a priority for the U.S. Marshals Service” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Stacia A. Hylton. “His capture is both significant and rewarding, and we thank our state and local partners and Mexican officials for their tireless persistence in bringing this fugitive to justice.”

Salas was added to the Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitive list in December 2011. He escaped from the Curry County Detention Center in Clovis, New Mexico, in August 2008, and had been on the lam ever since. At the time of his escape, he was serving a life sentence plus 56 years for his role in the murder of 10-year-old Carlos Perez.

“When a child suffers at the hands of a killer, the pain is endured by the family, community and our entire society and when this tragedy strikes, the law enforcement communities come together as an unyielding force until those responsible face justice for the horrific crimes committed,” said Conrad E. Candelaria, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico. “Due to the tireless efforts of many law enforcement professionals, spanning many years and hundreds of hours of investigation from agencies throughout the State of New Mexico, the United States Marshals Service for the District of New Mexico, and the Marshals Service International Investigative Branch, partnering with Mexican authorities, fugitive Salas will face justice long awaited.”

In the early morning hours of Sept. 15, 2005, Salas, along with his brothers Orlando Salas and Demetrio Salas and two other individuals, planned to murder Ruben Perez, reportedly in retaliation for an argument that occurred the previous day at the Clovis High School. Instead they killed his brother, Carlos, who was sleeping in the same bedroom. The child died just one day before his 11th birthday.