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Cartel leader arrested for 2010 attack on TX jet skiers

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    Mexican authorities detain suspect

  • Duration 4:49
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A new arm rest in a murder on the US Mexico border.

Texas couple David and Tiffany Hartley went jet skiing on falcon lake which straddles the border just over two years ago.

They were out checking out church ruins that are submerged half submerged on the Mexican side of the lake.

Tiffany says pirates in three small boats started chasing them shooting her husband in the head and gunning for her.

Until she made it back to land.

Mexican police have been searching for the mysterious killers for two years now they have made an arrest this man a drug cartel leader.

Who goes by the nickname of squirrel.

Joining us on the phone now sheriff -- he Gonzales -- a product county Texas is this a guy that you've heard of has he been on your radar sheriff Gonzales.

Honestly no we have.

And identified five individuals that I have some it's doing the killing of David.

That are low level -- say the also -- immediate -- -- tool that gave the orders to -- Tiffany also.

This individual -- -- some someone new to us we were not aware that that he had any involvement.

Of course he's higher ranking Turkish city in the chain of command of the other cartel -- -- time.

OK let's take a look for for our viewers let's take a look at the lake.

It straddles the border it's it's the Rio -- essentially as I understand it.

-- your county is on the American side of the border.

The murder apparently happened.

In Mexican waters.

So that's why Mexican authorities have taken the lead I mean has has your agency been able to gather any intelligence or or get any leads from the American side.

Well we have ever since it happened September 30 2010 we have been gathering evidence have been talking to people.

Four -- the purpose of trying to.

-- get this information to Mexican authorities simply again because it did not happen on the US side of the border have been Mexico.

Right however were trying to get out of submission to the Mexico authorities we have up provided -- Names.

Between FBI and we have provided information to FBI they have also had their mission be they have -- reported this information the Mexican authorities so.

We're trying to -- again gather as much information as we can.

Try to have some closure for the for the hardy family and also of course that may be -- who can bring these individuals to justice.

I know that not long after David's murder -- there was a Mexican police commander who was helping with the investigation a couple of Brothers had been named as possible suspects back then.

Couple of Mexican Brothers who were also involved in the drug business all of a -- that police commanders head -- Severed it was found in a suitcase that seem to me to say well police are onto something there.

But you say this new suspect that the so called squirrel Salvador Alfonzo Martinez estimate -- Is somebody you've not heard of before.

Well that's correctly and have police officer that was so the commander of the the state police and -- be headed.

You must not from what actually -- -- -- district killed because he was assisting in the investigation.

In Mexico murder case -- -- the federal jurisdiction it's like this commander was -- it was assisting in trying to locate the body of David Hartley and because of that.

Assistance to us at our request to look at the body he was -- -- it.

And there is no sign of the body I know that so frustrates his widow.

But what about motive what would be the motive for for these thugs to kill a couple of people who are just out have a good time on personal water craft.

I remember at the missed the Mexican side of the border and didn't really -- the US side of the border is controlled by the Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

The -- -- over the border -- US Mexico border this individual -- in that David had gone up there to take pictures so this.

Very popular so have -- -- church.

It's a very big tourist attraction.

They were on their way back to and the same thing happened to them that have happened beckon people in May that same year -- people along lake we're getting out of stopped by a Mexican books and and -- -- The same thing happened to them who -- then they didn't stop aid went into territory unbeknownst to them.

Where in this area where they went into this isn't a very very hot spot Bernard narcotics trafficking.

-- tons and tons of -- one -- historic there.

It just surprises me that they would go out after people you know when I ride a jet -- I don't take a lot of money or anything with me but.

Well -- got to realize that and assists in areas controlled by the Mexican drug drug trafficking organizations.

Now OK well good to know sheriff -- Gonzales we hope.

That the Mexican authorities found the right guy here that -- -- -- also too also yeah thanks for your help in the investigation and we'll talk to against him -- -- Gonzales thank you.

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