If you can’t be ’em, join ’em!
After a long, intense search that spanned multiple states — and into Mexico — a deadly killer wanted on U.S. soil was finally nabbed, and hiding where anybody would least expect.
As a police officer!
According to U.S. Marshals, Antonio Riano, known as “El Diablo” or “The Devil,” was was captured late last week after authorities discovered him working as a police officer in Mexico.
Riano was listed as a “Most Wanted” fugitive by the Butler County (OH) Sheriff’s Office following a shooting in December 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The shooting reportedly involved the death of 25-year-old Benjamin Becarra. Riano allegedly fled the U.S. after the incident to “avoid prosecution.”
Riano was captured Thursday in Mexico where “he was found to be working as a local police officer,” a press release from the U.S. Marshals’ office said. He was flown to Cincinnati and remains in the Butler County Jail awaiting court proceedings.
“This type of apprehension would not be possible without the cooperation and due diligence of both the Prosecutor’s Office investigators, the United States Marshal Service, and the United States Department of Justice,” Butler County Prosecutor Michael T. Gmoser said.
According to CBS News, prosecutors charged Riano with first-degree murder.
Former deputy Paul Newton worked on Riano’s case back in 2005 but later took a job at the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office, WKRC reported. Newton then began working on the case again in January 2024.
According to local outlet WKRC, Newton searched for the fugitive online where he quickly found him on Facebook, the outlet reported.
“At first, I was speechless. Then, I think the second thing that came to mind was, ‘I got you!’” he told WKRC.
According to a report from WKRC, the December 2004 shooting occurred at the Roundhouse Bar in Hamilton. Riano and Becerra allegedly got into an argument that was later taken outside of the bar. Security camera footage captured who police say was Riano shooting the victim in the face and killing him, the outlet reported.
Police said they found the alleged murder weapon in Riano’s home and had footage of him buying ammunition hours before the incident.
As for becoming a cop, Riano told WKRC-TV he became a police officer because he “wanted to help the people of Mexico.”
Check out the entire background of the bizarre search, and subsequent apprehension.