An aftermath over a decade in the marking, Sandra Lucia Tellez-Nieves, the co-owner of a now-infamous daycare in Hermosillo, Mexico, has been deported to her home country to face charges related to a tragic fire that claimed the lives of 49 children. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the fire at the ABC Daycare occurred back in 2009 with the facility reportedly having just one exit, which severely impeded escape and rescue efforts.
Tellez-Nieves, 51, had been on the radar of Mexican and U.S. authorities for negligent injury and homicide. A warrant for her was reissued back on March 2, 2022, as public outcry surrounding the case persisted over the years. She found herself in a custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a January 15 traffic stop in Tucson, as 12 News reported.
The deportation process culminated on Thursday, when Tellez-Nieves was handed over to Mexican authorities through the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Her long-awaited transfer is seen as a step towards justice for a community scarred by the tragic events of that day in June 2009.
Meanwhile, Tellez-Nieves' co-defendant, Robert Copado-Gutierrez, faces similar charges and was arrested on March 20. He remains in custody as he also awaits for deportation. "The U.S Marshals Service remains committed to ensuring that individuals wanted for serious crimes are brought to justice," Van Bayless, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona, stated, as he emphasized the role of cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies in such cross-border cases, as per FOX 10 Phoenix.
