RALEIGH, N.C. — UPDATE MAY 9: Alder Alfonso Marin Sotelo's getaway car, a red Mustang, was found in Eagle Pass, Texas.
UPDATE: Alder Alfonso Marin Sotelo was taken into custody by Mexican authorities on May 4, 2023, after 13:00 EST, in Guerrero, Mexico. The investigation to determine his exact movements since he escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Virginia on April 30, 2023, is ongoing.
The suspect who's accused of killing Wake County Sheriff’s Deputy Ned Byrd allegedly received help from his sister to escape from a Virginia jail, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Our Raleigh CBS affiliate WNCN obtained a criminal complaint for the suspect’s sister for supplying a getaway car to help the inmate escape.
The DOJ said on Monday, a co-conspirator was interviewed by investigators and told them that they met Adriana Marin-Sotelo at Palacious Automotive in High Point and received the red Mustang. Investigators said Adriana bought the vehicle for $3,000 and brought a paper license plate to place on the vehicle.
The warrant was signed by United States Magistrate Judge L. Patrick Auld on Tuesday.
According to jail records, Adriana Marin-Sotelo was being held under a federal hold in the Guilford County Jail under no bond. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office said she has since been released to the Feds.
WNCN previously reported Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia, early Sunday morning. He remains on the loose.
Marin-Sotelo was being held after pleading guilty in December 2022 to unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal immigrant.
He was charged with murder after Byrd was shot and killed on Aug. 11, 2022, on Battle Bride and Auburn Knightdale roads.
WNCN received a criminal complaint from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Moore filed the complaint for an arrest warrant stating that Marin-Sotelo escaped from custody on Sunday.
WFMY News 2's Itinease Mcmiller obtained court documents showing Alder was facing unrelated charges, accused of having a gun while illegally living in the U.S. in August.
He pleaded guilty in December and was supposed to be sentenced in June.
It's possible he then would've come to North Carolina to face the murder charge.
The complaint states that at 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, Marin-Sotelo was seen on video surveillance cameras climbing over the fence of the Virginia jail and escaping.
The FBI released images of a 2000s red or burgundy Ford Mustang that was believed to be driven during Marin-Sotelo’s escape.
Piedmont Regional Jail staff confirmed that Marin-Sotelo and another inmate escaped the facility. They've been on the run ever since. It's not clear how the jail didn't know the men were missing for at least 24 hours.
WNCN confirmed that Superintendent of the Piedmont Regional Jail Terry Townsend told them that the two “manipulated the locking mechanism on the rear exit door” to escape.
According to minutes from the Piedmont Regional Jail Authority Board, there have been issues with locks failing inside the prison.
In December 2022, the minutes detailed that the facility needs to replace locks in four "pods" and to replace eight cell doors.
In January 2023 the board wrote,"The current locks are failing."
The board mentioned plans to replace the locks in February and that Townsend was negotiating "with Willo Products Company to purchase locks for M pod,” but in March the board said the replacements for the locks had yet to be completed.
The warrant was signed by United States Magistrate Judge Mark R. Colombell.
The Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office said Marin-Sotelo remains at large. They ask if anyone sees him, call 911.
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