PALMVIEW: A 29 year-old man, who police say has ties to a Mexican drug cartel and fled into Mexico after shooting a Palmview man, was formally charged with capital murder.
Juan Carlos Lara Hernandez, from western Hidalgo County, stood in front of Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Jaime “Jerry” Muñoz a day after he turned himself into customs officers. Lara turned himself in to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge after Palmview investigators contacted him early.
Police Chief Chris Barrera said Lara made contact with his girlfriend’s family sometime who then put him in contact with Palmview investigators.
Lara fled to Reynosa after he was identified as the sole suspect in the murder of 24-year-old Jaime Ramos after Ramos’ lifeless body was found by his wife in their home’s living room with at least one gunshot to the head.
The murder was the first of the year for Palmview and Barrera said they owe a lot of thanks to the several law enforcement agencies that helped them in securing Lara. Investigators worked in conjunction with several local and federal agencies to help locate Lara.
Lara has a criminal history dating to 2012 that includes arrests and convictions for drug-related misdemeanor crimes. Muñoz set Lara’s bond at $1.5 million.
