Andrade was wanted in connection with the Nov. 31, 2002 death of 17-year-old
Renee Woodward. Woodward was killed when Andrade’s car was broadsided at the
intersection of Newark and Lake Pleasant roads in Attica Township. Andrade had
been showing off to Woodward and another passenger and sped through the
intersection as the other driver was pulling through.
Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Jason Parks was instrumental in
catching Andrade. “He has been prodding it all along,” said Lt. Gary Parks of
the detective division at the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Dept. “(He) had the tips
and was working with the FBI. The FBI found (Andrade).”
Lapeer County Assistant Prosecutor Tom Sparrow said, “It was really a
combination of people working together.”
Andrade now faces extradition from Mexico. If he is extradited, he will face
second- degree murder charges and counts associated with failure to appear for
arraignment. — J.F.
LAPEER -- On the run for more than five years, Lapeer
County's most wanted fugitive was nabbed by Mexican authorities on Thursday.
Victor Andrade, who turns 27 on Sunday, will spend his birthday behind bars.
"Mexican authorities took him into custody May 8," said Lapeer County
Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Parks. "He's been on the most wanted list for almost
six years. We never gave up."
A team of Parks, Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh, assistant
prosecutor Tom Sparrow, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and tips
generated by" America's Most Wanted" television show are credited with the
former Imlay City man's capture.
Andrade was being sought on second degree murder charges for the traffic
death of Renee Woodward, then 18, of Lapeer Township. According to police
reports, Andrade, then 21, picked up some teens who went to his motel room
and partied on Sept. 13, 2002. Then Andrade and passengers Melissa Hartwick,
then 13, Melinda Higgason, then 18, and April Wills, then 18, all of Imlay
City, piled into his Chevrolet Cavalier to pick up Woodward, who was friends
with the three teens.
Andrade, who was trying to impress his passengers, began speeding on
eastbound Newark Road.
"They were screaming and they begged him to stop," Parks said. "They knew
the stop sign was approaching and he blew right through it."
Andrade disregarded the stop sign at Lake Pleasant Road and drove into
the path of Sara Shaw, then 19, of Metamora. The impact caused both vehicles
to spin, coming to rest off the roadway. Shaw's vehicle caught on fire.
Woodward, then a senior at Lapeer East High School, was killed.
Following an investigation by Parks, a warrant for second degree murder
was issued by Lapeer County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tim Turkelson. But
right before the warrant was issued, Andrade vanished.
"We never stopped looking," Parks said. "We contacted the FBI in Flint
and obtained a Flight from Prosecution warrant. We got tips locally. We
contacted America's Most Wanted and ended up generating tips in Montana,
Georgia and Oregon. We followed up on those tips."
Law enforcement received information that Andrade, who is a Mexican
citizen, was living in Mexico. They obtained a provisional warrant through
the U.S. Department of Justice.
"Byron said go ahead and do it," Parks said. "He was a really big
supporter of finding him and said to do what it took. He assigned Tom
Sparrow to the case. He did a really good job. He was relentless."
If Andrade waives extradition, he could be in Lapeer County in a matter
of weeks. If he fights, there will be a hearing on that matter in Mexico.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed," Konschuh said. "It's been a long
wait for the victim's family."
The three other passengers in the Andrade's car have recovered from their
injuries and live in Michigan. All are in contact with the Lapeer County
Sheriff's Department.
Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or
susan.younger@lapeergroup.com.
Lapeer County Central Dispatch provides emergency
communication for all Police, Fire, and EMS agencies in Lapeer County. Funding
is provided through a telephone surcharge which is currently set at $3.70 per
line.
The
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