MURDER SUSPECT EXTRADITED FROM MEXICO
 

July 10, 2003

        San Antonio, Texas:  District Attorney Susan D. Reed and United States Marshal Jack Dean announced today that murder suspect Eric Quesada has been extradited from Mexico.  He arrived last night in the custody of U.S. Marshals at San Antonio International Airport.  Quesada is wanted for the 1998 shooting death of Michael Newhouse and the attempted capital murder of Benjamin Poehlman, who was paralyzed in the shooting.  The incident took place on I-35 at 1604 in Live Oak on June 27th.  Newhouse was the driver of an automobile being chased by Quesada.  Poehlman was back-seat passenger in Newhouse's car.  The driver of Quesada's car, Herman Hernandez received a 10-year prison sentence and Jesus Cruz, a back-seat passenger in Quesada's vehicle who, along with Quesada was a shooter, received a 30-year prison sentence.  The bullets that killed Newhouse came from Quesada's gun.

        Quesada has been featured on America's Most Wanted.  Live Oak P.D. detective Anita Seamans is the lead officer and has worked with the U.S. Marshal and the FBI tracking the defendant.  He was finally arrested in Mexico in the Spring of 2001.  Since then, the District Attorney and the United States Marshal have been working through the Department of State for Quesada's return.  Quesada has been fighting extradition since his arrest.  With the cooperation of Mexican authorities, he was turned over to the United States Marshals in Mexico City yesterday and returned last night to the United States, where he was taken into custody and booked into the Bexar County Jail without bond.

        For more information, please contact: Jack Dean, United States Marshal at 472-6540 or Michael D. Bernard, First Assistant District Attorney at 335-2342.

Bexar County Justice Center * 300 Dolorosa, Fifth Floor * San Antonio, Texas 78205-3030 (210) 335-2311

 For Victim Assistance call (210) 335-2105