(Wednesday, September 15, 2004)

Marfa, Texas – Vigilance and good police work by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol agents resulted in the arrest of three people sought for questioning in a double homicide in Colorado. The trio were stopped and arrested yesterday morning at the Border Patrol’s Immigration Checkpoint on Interstate 10 near Sierra Blanca, Texas. While conducting an immigration check at the primary inspection point, agents became suspicious when a Border Patrol canine positively alerted to the presence of hidden humans or drugs in the vehicle, a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The vehicle had Colorado license plates and was driven by 23-year-old Misty Chavez. Border Patrol agents detained the car and its passengers for a secondary inspection.

The passengers in the vehicle were 26-year-old Aaron Joseph Bernal and 25-year-old JoAnn Yvette Redwillow. While in the secondary inspection area, one of the Border Patrol agents remembered that the car, Bernal and Redwillow were named in a Law Enforcement Lookout that and were wanted for questioning in a double homicide committed on Sunday, September 12th in Denver, Colorado. Agents also recovered a stolen, loaded .40 caliber pistol and 80 rounds of ammunition from the vehicle.