Texas Woman Captured in Mexico Decades After Alleged Murder

A Texas woman accused of killing her three-year-old daughter was apprehended in Mexico nearly 30 years after fleeing from authorities. Her arrest concludes a decades-long search that began when she eluded trial for a capital murder charge in 1997.

The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office announced that Maria Narez, now 48, was taken into custody on Saturday following a collaborative international law enforcement operation.

Narez initially faced arrest in Tarrant County in 1996 concerning the death of her daughter, Kasandra L. White. Court records obtained by FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth indicate Narez allegedly assaulted White by shaking her, hitting her with an unknown object, and throwing her against a wall.

The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office provided details of Maria Narez’s capture in Mexico, highlighting her long-standing flight from justice.

Her initial bail stood at $500,000 when charges were filed on December 4, 1996. The bail was subsequently reduced to $25,000 the following day. Conditions for her release included avoiding contact with minors under 17, electronic monitoring, and undergoing monthly drug tests.

A grand jury indicted Narez on a capital murder charge in April 1997, where prosecutors were prepared to proceed with the trial. However, by August 28, 1997, her bondsman reported to the court that Narez was unreachable, leading to a warrant for her arrest.

The docket notes indicated her bond was forfeited on October 7, 1997, as another warrant was issued, displaying concerns over her whereabouts.

Authorities shared that Narez left the United States, remaining a fugitive for nearly 30 years. “Before the trial could commence, Narez escaped and stayed hidden for decades,” stated the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in a social media release. “Efforts to return Narez to face her charges continued with determination.”

The capture involved collaboration from Mexico Interpol, the U.S. Marshals Service’s Mexico Foreign Field Office, the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and local investigators.

Narez is set to be extradited to Texas to confront the capital murder charge against her.

Greg Wehner, a reporter for Fox News Digital, covers U.S. news and crime with a focus on significant developments influencing communities across the nation.