Body of Fugitive US Marshal Found in Mexico

Shot lawman was wanted for pawning government gun

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 27, 2009 4:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – The decomposing body of a US marshal wanted for stealing government property has been found dumped in a canal in Ciudad Juarez, CNN reports. Vincent Bustamente had been shot in the head execution-style, according to Mexican police. The El Paso officer had not been seen since he failed to show up for a court hearing last week.

Bustamente—who had to turn in his gun and badge after being accused of pawning a government shotgun—was not in Mexico on official business, a US Marshal Service spokesman said. A warrant for his arrest had been issued after he missed the hearing. The FBI is investigating the death as an assault on a federal agent.

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Army soldiers guard a police station in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (AP Photo)

Police and forensic officers examine the body of US marshal Vincent Bustamante, found in the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (AP Photo)

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He was a familiar face around the federal courthouse here. I'm very shocked by this and very saddened. He had a lot of friends and a lot of people that cared about him.
- Mike Torres, Vincent Bustamente's attorney

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Body of Fugitive US Marshal Found in Mexico