Nearly 30 years after her three-year-old daughter’s death, Anna Marlene Somoza has been arrested on first-degree murder charges. U.S. Marshals Service captured Somoza in Mexico, where she had evaded capture for more than 12 years due to her ties with cartels. Extradition to the U.S. will follow for the alleged murder of her daughter, Crystal Reyes.
Details of the Alleged Crime
Before her tragic death, Reyes suffered severe abuse, torture, and neglect. Authorities described how she was confined to a dog kennel, bound, gagged, and left alone for weeks. On January 30, 1997, she was suffocated and abandoned in a sealed cardboard box, resulting in her death.
Investigation and Arrest
The investigation began after a hunter found human bone fragments in Arizona in 1998. DNA analysis in 2014 confirmed the remains belonged to Crystal Reyes. Detectives then charged Somoza and Avelino Tamala, her then-partner, with first-degree murder. Tamala was convicted in 2016 and sentenced to life in prison. However, Somoza had been deported by that time.
Background and Capture
Somoza had a criminal record linked with a drug trafficking network in the 1980s and 1990s. She met Tamala, a narcotics detective, during her time as a confidential informant. The couple lived in Arizona with Reyes, who was born in Mexico.
Reyes’ abuse likely went unnoticed due to her not attending school. Childhelp’s Stacy Vaughan explained that educational institutions are significant sources for abuse reports. Modern laws now mandate all adults over 18 to report suspected abuse, which may help prevent such cases today.
After Her Escape
After being linked to Reyes’ remains in 2014, U.S. authorities launched a search involving multiple agencies. In October 2022, they obtained an arrest warrant for Somoza, who was actively avoiding detection in Cuernavaca, Mexico. On October 18, Mexican authorities captured her in Xochitepec.
Extradition Process
Russell Lorfing, a former federal prosecutor, noted that the extradition would involve U.S. Marshals coordinating with Mexican officials. This process could take months or even years if Somoza challenges the charges through an appeal known as an amparo. Such legal actions can significantly delay extradition.