Ohio Murder Fugitive on “Most Wanted” List Since 2004 Found Working as a Police Officer in Mexico

OHIO — A man who spent nearly 20 years on Ohio’s Most Wanted list for a fatal shooting in 2004 has been captured in Mexico, where authorities say he had been living openly and working as a local police officer.

According to the United States Marshals Service, the suspect — Antonio Riano, now 72 years old — had been sought since the killing of Benjamin Becerra, a 25-year-old victim fatally shot in Butler County. Despite years of searches and multiple public alerts, Riano managed to evade arrest and build a new life across the border.

Suspect Arrested After Nearly Two Decades on the Run

Officials confirmed that Riano was arrested on August 1 in Zapotitlán Palmas, located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Authorities there discovered that he had been serving as a police officer in his hometown, using his real identity despite being wanted in the United States.

For years, Riano remained one of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office’s most wanted fugitives, and in 2005 his case was even featured on the national television program America’s Most Wanted, bringing widespread attention to the investigation.

Longtime Fugitive Lived Publicly Despite National Alerts

Federal officials expressed surprise at how long Riano was able to avoid capture while working in law enforcement. Despite international alerts and ongoing searches, he lived publicly in Mexico without detection by local authorities until earlier this year. U.S. Marshals say extradition procedures are currently being coordinated.

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