Alleged Illegal Alien Arrested in Mexico for East Texas Toddler’s Death

MARSHALL — A 28-year-old alleged illegal alien who resided in Harrison County has been arrested in Mexico for the February 2012 death of an East Texas toddler. KETK reports that on Monday, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and Harrison County District Attorney’s Office were notified by the U.S. Marshal’s Office that Jose Luis Casiano-Aburto had been taken into custody. Casiano-Aburto was listed as the sole suspect in a murder case of February 15, 2012, involving the death of two-year-old Yeli Madalyn Jimenez (pictured). Her death was attributed to blunt force injuries reportedly received after Casiano-Aburto struck the child. Casiano-Aburto was dating the mother of the child at the time of her death.

Investigators interviewed family members, including the mother, to find Casiano-Aburto allegedly struck the child in the abdomen and had previously allegedly assaulted the mother, Felipa Dominguez. A warrant for his arrest was sworn after deputies attempted to contact Casiano-Aburto for an interview the day after the child’s death and discovered he had reportedly fled to his native Mexico. After the warrant had been delivered to the U.S. Marshal’s Office, negotiations for his arrest were made with the U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and Mexican Government Authorities. According to authorities, he will be handed over to U.S. Marshal’s Office Deputies and returned within a few days to Harrison County, where he will be held pending trial. His original bond was $1,000,000, but that may change due his fleeing to Mexico, officials say.