Crime & Safety

RivCo Extradites Alleged Toddler's Killer from Mexico to Face Charges

Juan Carlos Marquez, 30, was brought back to the United States Friday night and was booked into the Banning jail on suspicion of one count each of murder, child abuse resulting in death, and torture.

The following was reported by Patch Local Editor Toni McAllister

A fugitive who fled to Mexico following the 2009 killing of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son has been returned to Riverside County, authorities are reporting. 

Juan Carlos Marquez, 30, was brought back to the United States Friday night and was booked into a county jail facility on suspicion of one count each of murder, child abuse resulting in death, and torture, according to John Hall, spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. 

Marquez is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

"Marquez was arrested in January 2012 in Guerrero, Mexico by Mexican law enforcement authorities assisted by United States Marshals. Marquez fought extradition to the U.S., and his extradition was finally approved by Mexican authorities and he was returned to the United States," Hall wrote in a statement released Monday morning.

On February 16, 2009, Corona police received a 911 call from a man later identified as Marquez reporting that a child had been taking a shower alone and slipped and fell, Hall wrote. Corona fire personnel arrived and transported the 3-year-old boy, Carlos Galacia, to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. 

"Corona police detectives responded to the hospital and noticed numerous injuries to the child including what appeared to be bite marks in various stages of healing on his upper body, legs and arms. There was also a bruise on his cheek and other injuries to his legs, including possible thin whip marks," Hall continued.

A coroner’s autopsy determined that the boy’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to the abdomen and that his injuries were not consistent with a fall in the bathtub, Hall continued.

The boy’s mother, Nancy Barrientos Perez, 28, was at the hospital but Marquez was not, the spokesman said. 

"Perez gave detectives various statements that were inconsistent with the evidence. Perez was arrested and later prosecuted in case," Hall added. 

In August 2012, a Riverside County jury convicted Perez of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse resulting in death. In September 2012, she was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison. 

Corona police detectives determined that Marquez was driven to the Mexico border where he entered Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing, according to Hall.





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