The Texas Department of Public Safety says a Laredo woman on the “Texas 10 Most Wanted” list for engaging in sexual abuse against a girl has been captured in Laredo.
Iris Iliana Rodriguez, 34, was apprehended by INTERPOL Mexico on December 11, in Jalisco, Mexico, officials announced on Friday, according to News4SA.
The U.S. Marshals Service, in collaboration with Texas DPS Criminal Investigations special agents from Laredo, worked in conjunction with the Marshals Country Attaché in Mexico to carry out the capture, with the assistance of INTERPOL Mexico.
Rodriguez is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an 11-year-old girl while working at the Border Region Behavioral Health Center in Laredo, officials said.
LATEST NEWS: Texas Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitive Captured in Mexico
AUSTIN – A TX 10 Most Wanted offender — Iris Iliana Rodriguez — is back in custody after their arrest in Dec. in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. A Crime Stoppers reward will be paid. More ➡ https://t.co/uiICOWBvei. pic.twitter.com/PYL1XXoOTv
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) January 12, 2024
“The initial contact allegedly is to have occurred while Rodriguez was working as a counselor for a CAPS (Child, Adolescent and Parent Services) program in Laredo,” DPS said.
“She later became employed at the Border Region Behavioral Health Center in Laredo as a CAPS Counselor, which allowed her to visit the victim at school under the pretext of offering guidance and support for the child.”
The defendant has been on the run since 2015, according to court documents. Webb County issued an arrest warrant on charges of indecency with a child and unlawful restraint and harassment. Rodriguez fled to Mexico to evade arrest.
Subsequent warrants were issued, including charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact and flight to avoid prosecution. A reward will be given to a tipster who helped law enforcement capture Rodriquez, police said.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Iris Iliana Rodriguez,/Texas Department of Public Safety]