A tipster's vital information has led to the capture of Iris Iliana Rodriguez, a former counselor who landed on Texas' Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list for multiple charges including indecency with a child. Her arrest came more than nine years after she was accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with an 11-year-old girl.
According to FOX San Antonio, Rodriguez, 34, was apprehended on Thursday in the State of Jalisco, Mexico by INTERPOL, concluding a fugitive chase that began to ultimately pay off in January 2015. Rodriguez had eluded authorities, failing to stay bound by the law's reach, thus becoming one of Texas' most sought-after fugitives.
The capture was the fruition of a tip-off to Crime Stoppers, leading to coordination efforts between the United States Marshals Service, DPS Special Agents from Laredo, and the USMS Country Attaché in Mexico with support from INTERPOL Mexico. As detailed by Texas Department of Public Safety, a reward will be issued to the tipster whose information proved crucial in Rodriguez's arrest.
Rodriguez, who had been a CAPS counselor in Laredo, Texas, used her position to visit her victim at school under the facade of offering guidance. Her ability to most effectively exploit the trust inherent in her professional role raised immediate concern and outrage among the community. Alongside the indecency charges, Rodriguez faced accusations of harassment and unlawful restraint, adding to the severity of her crimes.
Authorities have warned that Rodriguez should be considered armed and dangerous, underscoring the potential risk she posed to the community. Now back in custody, Rodriguez faces the legal consequences of her alleged actions, bringing some measure of closure to the lengthy manhunt and the community left in the wake of her offenses.
