Executive Summary
- FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive Alejandro Castillo was arrested in Pachuca, Mexico, on Jan. 16, 2026.
- Castillo is accused of the 2016 murder of co-worker Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le in North Carolina.
- The suspect faces state murder charges and federal charges for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
- Extradition proceedings are expected to transfer Castillo from Mexico City to North Carolina.
Alejandro “Alex” Rosales Castillo, a fugitive listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, was taken into custody in Mexico on January 16, 2026, concluding a nearly decade-long manhunt linked to the 2016 murder of a co-worker in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Federal officials confirmed that Castillo was captured in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. According to the FBI, the investigation began in August 2016 following the disappearance of Truc Quan “Sandy” Ly Le. Castillo and Le, along with a third individual, Ahmia Feaster, were co-workers at a Showmars restaurant in Charlotte at the time of the incident.
Authorities located Le’s vehicle at a bus station in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 15, 2016. Her body was discovered two days later in a wooded area of Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Forensic evidence indicated that Le had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed Castillo crossing the U.S. border from Arizona into Mexico on August 16, 2016.
While Feaster surrendered to authorities in Aguascalientes, Mexico, later that year, investigators believed Castillo remained in hiding, potentially aided by family members in the region. The FBI stated that the 27-year-old was eventually located in Pachuca, hundreds of miles from his initial suspected location. Castillo was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list in October 2017.
International Extradition and Procedural Next Steps
Following his arrest, Castillo is being detained in Mexico City pending extradition to North Carolina. He faces a state charge of first-degree murder and a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The extradition process involves coordination between the U.S. Department of Justice and Mexican authorities, a procedure that can vary in duration based on diplomatic protocols. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
