Alex Rosales Castillo arrested in Mexico after nearly ten-year manhunt

Alejandro "Alex" Rosales Castillo, who had been on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list since October 2017, was taken into custody in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico on January 16. Mexican authorities, working with the FBI Law Enforcement Attaché based in Mexico City, coordinated the arrest; Castillo is now detained in Mexico City as extradition proceedings are prepared to return him to North Carolina.

Castillo faces state murder charges tied to the August 17, 2016 killing of 23-year-old Truc Quan "Sandy" Ly Le. A North Carolina state arrest warrant was issued on November 2, 2016, and a federal warrant charging unlawful flight to avoid prosecution followed on February 10, 2017. Surveillance footage tracked Castillo crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in August 2016, and investigators tracked his movements overseas in the years that followed.

The arrest closes a nearly ten-year manhunt that stretched across jurisdictions and borders. For readers who follow long-running fugitive cases, this arrest highlights sustained international cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement and the role of diplomatic law enforcement channels. The involvement of the FBI Law Enforcement Attaché underscores how extended investigations and cross-border coordination can lead to apprehension even after many years on the run.

Practically, the immediate next steps are detention in Mexico City and formal extradition procedures to transfer Castillo to North Carolina to face the state murder charge. Extradition paperwork and hearings will determine the timeline, and prosecutors in North Carolina will likely take custody once Mexican authorities complete their legal steps. Expect court appearances, arraignment, and pretrial motions to follow after extradition is complete.

This development also matters for the victim's family and for investigators handling related leads. A suspect's arrest can reopen case files, prompt additional witness interviews, and accelerate forensic reviews. If you have information tied to the 2016 case that has not been shared with investigators, verify the proper local or federal channels for submitting tips and preserve any records that could corroborate timelines or sightings.

For the true crime community, the Castillo case is a reminder that some files remain active for years and that persistence in record-keeping, tip submission, and follow-up can make a difference. Watch for official updates from North Carolina prosecutors and Mexican authorities as extradition moves forward, and treat early reports with caution until courts set schedules. This arrest does not end the legal process, but it is a major step toward accountability and answers for a decade-long investigation.