By TopTrendReportTv
August 6, 2024
A U.S. fugitive known as "The Devil," wanted for a fatal shooting outside an Ohio bar 20 years ago, has been captured in Mexico. Authorities revealed that he had been working as a local police officer. Antonio "El Diablo" Riano, now 72, was arrested Thursday in Zapotitlan Palmas and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the December 2004 shooting in suburban Cincinnati, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service. On Monday, a judge ordered Riano to be held without bond, as reported by CBS affiliate WKRC-TV.
Riano fled Ohio and then the U.S. after allegedly shooting and killing 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra two decades ago. He had been listed on the Butler County Sheriff's Office's "Most Wanted" list and featured on an episode of the popular TV show "America's Most Wanted."
The case had gone cold until "El Diablo" was discovered more than 2,000 miles away in an unexpected role. "When Riano was arrested in Mexico, he was found to be working as a local police officer," stated the U.S. agency. The suspect was handed over to U.S. marshals in Mexico City on Thursday and charged with first-degree murder.
Riano was flown to Cincinnati and taken to the Butler County Jail, where he remains. As he was being taken into custody at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, WKRC-TV asked Riano why he had become a police officer. Riano replied in Spanish, "I wanted to help the people of Mexico."
When questioned if he killed Benjamin Becerra, Riano responded, "No, I did not."
Witnesses said that on December 19, 2004, Riano and Becarra had an argument at the Roundhouse Bar in Hamilton, Ohio, located about 30 miles north of Cincinnati, according to WKRC-TV. The argument continued outside, where surveillance footage allegedly captured Riano shooting Becerra in the face.
Police said they had additional evidence, including video of Riano buying bullets a few hours before the shooting at a Walmart and the murder weapon reportedly found hidden under floorboards in Riano's home, WKRC-TV reported. Mark Henson, a detective on the case in 2004, told WKRC, "We had all the evidence we needed. It was just a matter of waiting to find him."
Riano managed to evade capture by first fleeing to New Jersey and then to his hometown in Mexico.
Earlier this year, there was a major breakthrough in the case. Paul Newton, a former deputy involved in the case who now works for the Butler County Prosecutor's Office, told WKRC that authorities "started actively looking" for Riano in January. They soon discovered that "El Diablo" had a Facebook page, indicating he was living in Oaxaca, Mexico, and working as a police officer at the Zapotitlan Palmas Police Department.
Upon discovering his location, Newton exclaimed, "My God, there he is! A little bit grayer, a little bit older, but it was him." The Butler County Prosecutor's Office informed Becarra's family of Riano's arrest and extradition. WKRC-TV also learned that Riano still has family in Ohio, including a wife and three children.
"This arrest is the result of ongoing collaboration between agencies and the persistence of investigators who refused to give up on this case," said Michael D. Black, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio.
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