The case of Marco Antonio Alvarez Radillo illustrates the tendency for the San Fernando Valley area criminal suspects to flee to Mexico—especially when sought in connection to violent acts.
The crime that Radillo is suspected of committing occurred in 1994. He fled to Mexico, where despite his family's assistance, he remains at large.
In 1994, Radillo was suspicious of something going on between his then-wife and her male friend, John Black, 28, police said. He would follow them, suspicious they were having an affair. His wife finally left Radillo and she was calling him her ex-husband to their mutual friends.
Finally, on August 5, police believe that Radillo's jealousy overcame him. He found out that Black took his wife to a party.
Police said he followed his victim by car and pulled up alongside him. After arguing, Radillo is said to have fired a gun at the victim's car along San Fernando Road between Sunland and Penrose avenues.
Only one shot struck the victim, but it was enough to kill him. The car stopped at Vineland Avenue and San Fernando Road.
Det. Thomas Townsend, homicide detective assigned to North Hollywood division, was not surprised to find that Radillo fled to Mexico, like many of the suspects wanted for crimes in the North Hollywood Division.
"These men are Mexican citizens or nationals and have fled the United States to avoid arrest," Townsend said. "I know most of the warrants I'm working on now making sure we're staying active in our pursuit of the warrant suspects, and if any new information may have developed I want to be aware of. In many of these the prior investigations indicate they fled to Mexico."
Radillo's family has cooperated with the police in trying to locate Radillo. His ex-wife and daughter have had no contact with Radillo since the crime. His wife says Radillo was an illegal immigrant, though she herself is a legal citizen.
Townsend led a further investigation in 2009 to locate Radillo, but a series of specific addresses did not turn up the suspect. Information does not always lead to an arrest, for a number of factors.
"For example, if somebody called today and said I have information where the suspect is, we're going to take that information down and then begin looking into it," the detective explained. "But by the time we actually get out there, it might be a day or three delay."
Townsend said, "Unless they're there right now and they know this person, if somebody says, 'I think he's staying at this location, ' we'll start working on it. If somebody says they're there now, we have to go now. A lot of it depends on the credibility of the person making the contact with us."
The good news is that Mexico has grown especially vigilant in finding American crime suspects and working with the government for extradition.
"Our relations have improved with Mexico in obtaining our homicide suspects back. So as things have improved between the United States and Mexico, there is a good probability, if we could identify them and have information where they may be staying in Mexico, the Mexican authorities would help bring them to us," the detective said.
If you have any information about Marco Antonio Alvarez Radillo, contact North Hollywood Homicide Detectives at (818) 623-4075.
Suspect: Marco Antonio Alvarez Radillo
Height: 5 foot, 10 inches
Weight: 160 pounds
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Date of Birth: Dec. 24, 1967
Wanted on Charges of Murder
Victim: John Black
Age: 28
Where: San Fernando Road at Vineland Avenue
Date of Incident: August 5, 1994
(This is part of a continuing series of stories of the Most Wanted Criminals of the North Hollywood Division of the Los Angeles Police Department. Click here for the previous stories.)
