More than a decade after slipping out of a South Texas prison, convicted killer Jose Fernando Bustos-Diaz is back in the spotlight, with state and federal authorities renewing their push to track him down. Bustos-Diaz, convicted in a 2005 Harris County homicide, escaped from the Briscoe Unit in Dilley in 2010 and never returned to custody. Investigators say he should be treated as armed and dangerous while the search continues.
U.S. Marshals Listing and Federal Reward
The U.S. Marshals Service has Bustos-Diaz listed on its public fugitive page and is offering up to $25,000 for information that leads to his arrest, describing him as "armed and dangerous." The federal profile notes his identifying tattoos and advises officers to confirm any warrants through NCIC.
The 2005 Killing in Northwest Harris County
Bustos-Diaz pleaded guilty in 2006 to the murder of Deborah Gail Kay. Investigators say Kay was found stabbed in her home on January 30, 2005. At the time of the killing, he was working as a ranch hand at the Oaks of Kendalwood stables, according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle.
Warrants and State Most-Wanted Status
The Texas Department of Public Safety has placed Bustos-Diaz on its Texas 10 Most Wanted list and is offering a separate reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his arrest. DPS notes that he is wanted for escape and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and directs potential tipsters to its online form and mobile app for anonymous tips.
Escape History and Where He May Have Gone
Records from the TDCJ Office of the Inspector General show Bustos-Diaz escaped from the Briscoe Unit in Dilley on April 6, 2010. Investigators have long believed he fled to Mexico after breaking out. The agency’s Fugitive Watch page lists details of the escape and provides an Office of the Inspector General tip line for reports.
Legal Status and Open Warrants
Authorities say Bustos-Diaz currently faces active warrants for escape and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, along with a parole-violation warrant tied to his original homicide sentence. Those state and federal actions keep his case live across multiple jurisdictions. Local crime-stoppers postings also highlight the parole-violation warrant, underscoring that several agencies still have open matters involving him, according to Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers.
How to Report Tips
Officials are urging anyone with information on Bustos-Diaz to contact existing tip channels, including the U.S. Marshals tip portal and hotline, the Texas DPS online tip form or 1-800-252-TIPS, and the TDCJ Office of the Inspector General escape tip line at (936) 437-5148. Tips can also go through local Crime Stoppers programs. Agencies say tips may be submitted anonymously and stress that members of the public should not try to detain anyone they believe to be a fugitive.
