New Mexico, United States — A fugitive that was wanted by the FBI since 1977 has finally been arrested in New Mexico on Wednesday.
The prison escapee, Luis Archuleta, 77, has been on the run and living under an alias for over 40 years. Archuleta was wanted on a 1977 federal arrest warrant on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution/confinement, according to an FBI news release.
“This arrest should send a clear signal to violent offenders everywhere: The FBI will find you, no matter how long it takes or how far you run, and we will bring you to justice,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider.
The release said that Archuleta had escaped in 1974 from a Colorado Department of Corrections facility after he was convicted in Denver the previous year for shooting a police officer.
According to the FBI, Archuleta hid out in Español, New Mexico, for decades under the name Ramon Montoya.
His initial warrent became inactive in 2018, and a new one was issued on June 30, according to the release. Archuleta will be returned to Colorado.