The search for an escaped federal prisoner was in its fifth day on Thursday, with the U.S. Marshal Service reporting no leads on the whereabouts of Mario Martinez-Rios, 30.
Martinez-Rios' escape from Luna County Detention Center with two other men was noticed at 8 p.m. on Sunday. The other two were captured in about 21 hours after being spotted west of the detention center by the crew of a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine helicopter. Alberto Grijalba-Murillo, 39, and Julio Mendoza-Acosta, 50, had been arrested for possession of marijuana and illegal entry into the U.S. They are federal prisoners who now also face escape charges.
Martinez-Rios was being held for illegal entry into the U.S.
"I'm not aware of any information that has been received," Dep. U.S. Marshal Benjamin Segotta said on Thursday of Martinez-Rios.
Martinez-Rios uses the aliases Mario Martinez, Mario Rios and Mario Rios-Martinez. He is a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, 5-foot-8 and 173 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a skin tone described by the USMS as "medium."
Anyone with information on Martinez-Rios should call 911.
The USMS continues to investigate the escape, Segotta said Thursday.
"Martinez-Rios is considered a danger to the community and the United States Marshals Service is still actively investigating all possible leads in New Mexico, Colorado and the Country of Mexico." Segotta said earlier.
"The Marshals Service considers Martinez-Rios' apprehension a top priority and will continue to dedicate man power and resources until Martinez-Rios is caught and presented before a Federal Court."
Luna County has had for 11 years a contract with the USMS to hold federal prisoners. U.S. Marshall Conrad Candelaria said the escape should not endanger that contract.
Kevin Buey can be reached at [email protected] .
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