Escaped Puerto Rican Prisoner Captured in Florida After Nearly Four Decades on the Run
After eluding authorities for almost four decades, Jorge Milla-Valdes, a 63-year-old fugitive who escaped from a prison in Puerto Rico in 1987, has been apprehended in Florida. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced the capture, highlighting the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies that led to the long-awaited arrest.
The pursuit of Milla-Valdes gained renewed momentum when the Puerto Rico Department of Justice contacted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office with information suggesting that the fugitive was residing in the area under the alias Luis Aguirre. This tip proved crucial, as it provided a fresh lead in a case that had gone cold for years.
According to officials, the investigation revealed that Milla-Valdes, under the name Luis Aguirre, had a criminal history in Monroe County, which encompasses Key West and the southernmost region of Florida. The criminal record included serious offenses such as robbery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, indicating a pattern of violent behavior.
The Fort Myers News-Press, a part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that Lee County jail records showed an arrest in 2023 under the name Aguirre. The arrest was related to a failure to appear for a misdemeanor offense, a moving traffic violation, and a parole violation. However, the records also revealed inconsistencies in the date of birth provided by Aguirre. One arrest record listed a birth date of March 16, 1963, while the most recent arrest listed it as May 22, 1961. These discrepancies raised suspicions and prompted further investigation.
The breakthrough in the case came with the comparison of fingerprint records. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office obtained Milla-Valdes’ original fingerprints from 1986 from Puerto Rico. They also obtained a set of fingerprints from his criminal history in Monroe County under the name Aguirre. A meticulous analysis revealed that the fingerprints matched, confirming that Luis Aguirre and Jorge Milla-Valdes were indeed the same person.
Armed with this conclusive evidence, authorities moved swiftly to locate and apprehend Milla-Valdes. According to a post on the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, Milla-Valdes was found in Fort Myers Shores within two hours of the positive fingerprint identification and taken into custody.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno expressed his satisfaction with the arrest and praised the dedication of his Fugitive Warrants Unit and Latent Fingerprints Supervisor Tina Carver. "Thanks to the hard work and determination of my Fugitive Warrants Unit and Latent Fingerprints Supervisor Tina Carver, a positive fingerprint identification was made within minutes," Sheriff Marceno said in a statement. "Even if your crimes don’t start here in Lee County, I promise, they will end here."
At the time of the report, Milla-Valdes remained in custody on a $10,000 bond, facing an out-of-county warrant related to his escape from prison in Puerto Rico nearly four decades ago. The legal process to extradite him to Puerto Rico to face justice for his escape was initiated.
Online court documents indicate that Milla-Valdes has been assigned a court-appointed public defender in the case. USA TODAY has reached out to the attorney for comment. As of Thursday, his next court appearance had not been listed online. The case underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to pursue justice, regardless of the passage of time. The capture of Milla-Valdes serves as a reminder that fugitives cannot outrun the law indefinitely, and that law enforcement agencies will continue to collaborate to bring them to justice.
The successful apprehension of Milla-Valdes after such a long period of evasion speaks to the advancements in forensic science and the persistence of law enforcement. Fingerprint analysis, which played a crucial role in confirming his identity, remains a powerful tool in criminal investigations.
The case also highlights the importance of interagency cooperation. The collaboration between the Puerto Rico Department of Justice and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was essential in bringing Milla-Valdes to justice. By sharing information and resources, these agencies were able to piece together the puzzle and locate the fugitive.
The details surrounding Milla-Valdes’s life while on the run are not fully known, but the criminal activity under the Aguirre alias suggests a life of continued lawlessness. It remains to be seen what additional charges he may face related to his actions while living under an assumed identity. The investigation is on going, and it is expected that more information will come to light as the legal proceedings continue.
This case serves as a testament to the unwavering pursuit of justice and the commitment of law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for their crimes, no matter how long it takes. The capture of Jorge Milla-Valdes brings closure to a decades-old case and sends a clear message that fugitives will eventually be brought to justice.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY, who is covering the Jorge Milla-Valdes case. She can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @nataliealund. She will continue to update the public as the legal proceedings play out and more details become available.
