State
DA: NM fugitive became cartel assassin in Mexico
Posted: Oct 5, 2012 2:44 PM
Updated: Oct 5, 2012 2:44 PM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Officials say a convicted child killer who escaped from a New Mexico prison but was captured in Mexico had become an assassin for the hyper-violent Zetas cartel.
New Mexico Ninth Judicial District Attorney Matt Chandler said Friday that Edward Salas was known to authorities as a "sicario" a name commonly used to describe a cartel-hired hit man.
Officials say Salas, who was on the list of the U.S. Marshals Service's 15 most wanted, was taken into custody Thursday in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua following a four-year international manhunt.
Authorities say he escaped from a Clovis jail in August 2008 and was serving a life sentence for his role in the murder of 10-year-old boy.
New Mexico Gov. Susan Martinez said officials are working to extradite Salas back to New Mexico.
