A 40-Year Saga Ends: Puerto Rican Fugitive Apprehended in Florida
Nearly four decades after his daring escape from a Puerto Rican prison, the long arm of the law finally caught up with Jorge Milla-Valdes in the sunny state of Florida. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the capture of the fugitive who had been on the run since 1987.
The Puerto Rico Department of Justice had long suspected that Milla-Valdes was residing under the alias Luis Aguirre, concealing his criminal past that included charges of robbery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in Florida’s Monroe County.
The Hunt Begins: Pursuing a Decades-Long Fugitive
Milla-Valdes’ escape had remained a mystery for years, until the LCSO Fugitive Warrants Unit launched a search for the elusive fugitive. With the help of original 1986 fingerprints from Puerto Rico and a matching set from his criminal history in Monroe County, the authorities began to piece together the puzzle of Milla-Valdes’ whereabouts.
Under the expert guidance of Latent Fingerprints Supervisor Tina Carver, the fingerprint comparison process was expedited. In a remarkable feat of forensic investigation, Supervisor Carver swiftly confirmed the match between Aguirre and Milla-Valdes, using fingerprints that had been collected over 40 years ago.
The Arrest: A Dramatic Showdown in Ft. Myers Shores
Armed with the crucial information, the fugitives unit wasted no time in tracking down Milla-Valdes. Within two hours of the fingerprint confirmation, the fugitive was apprehended in Ft. Myers Shores, bringing an end to his decades-long evasion of justice.
Bodycam footage captured a poignant moment as Milla-Valdes, now facing the consequences of his actions, expressed disbelief at his sudden change in fate. “They don’t want me. They told me about two times,” he muttered to officers during the arrest. However, the arresting officer’s response poignantly highlighted the gravity of the situation: “Now they do. They changed their mind.”
Sheriff Carmine Marceno commended his team’s swift and efficient response in bringing Milla-Valdes to justice. “My team’s skill is unmatched at every level; even if your crimes don’t start here in Lee County, I promise, they WILL end here,” Sheriff Marceno affirmed in a statement, underscoring the commitment of law enforcement to uphold justice no matter the passage of time.
As the chapter closes on Milla-Valdes’ decades-long evasion of the law, his capture serves as a poignant reminder that justice, though delayed, is never denied. The tireless efforts of law enforcement, coupled with the tenacity of those dedicated to upholding the law, ensure that fugitives like Milla-Valdes cannot evade the consequences of their actions indefinitely. The wheels of justice may turn slowly, but they turn inexorably, bringing closure to those impacted by the fugitive’s actions and serving as a beacon of hope for a safer, more just society.
