An Argentine national wanted in a high-profile killing in Mexico was taken into custody Thursday morning in Deschutes County after a tightly coordinated, multiagency operation. Authorities say 38-year-old Juan Manuel Reverter is accused of torturing and strangling his girlfriend, 31-year-old Agostina Jalabert, in Playa del Carmen in February 2023, then staging the scene to look like she had died by suicide.
The arrest happened around 7:30 a.m. and was carried out by U.S. Marshals working with Interpol Washington, Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol, according to KTVZ. Local officials said the takedown was intelligence-driven and planned specifically to keep the public out of harm’s way while officers moved in.
Mexican authorities later re-opened and upgraded the investigation into Jalabert’s death, obtained a warrant for Reverter and requested an Interpol Red Notice to help track him down, as reported by OregonLive. Jalabert was found dead in Playa del Carmen in February 2023, and officials say it was her sister who discovered her body.
How authorities tracked him
The U.S. Marshals Service notes that its fugitive task forces rely on intelligence sharing and partnerships with other agencies to locate suspects across borders, a playbook mirrored in the Deschutes County arrest. In previous public statements the agency has highlighted how those task forces regularly coordinate with Interpol and federal partners on international cases, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Extradition and next steps
Mexican prosecutors in Quintana Roo are expected to seek custody of Reverter and begin formal extradition proceedings once U.S. authorities complete booking and any initial court hearings, the reporting shows. That handoff will require formal requests through diplomatic and judicial channels and could take weeks to months, depending on the paperwork and any U.S. legal challenges, according to OregonLive.
Jalabert’s death drew sustained coverage in Argentina and Mexico and sparked public calls for justice from her family, who have closely followed developments since 2023. Argentine outlet La Nación reported on the family’s reaction after word of the arrest spread on Thursday.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on fugitives to contact the U.S. Marshals Service tip line or use the Marshals' online tips portal, resources highlighted in local coverage of the arrest. For additional details on the operation, see KTVZ.
