U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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| In Reply, Please Refer to Release No. |
211 West Roosevelt Road Chicago, Illinois 60608 (312) 829 - 1199 |
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October 12, 2006 DURING SHOOTOUT WITH MEXICAN NATIONAL POLICE Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and John Stone, Chief of the Wheeling, Illinois Police Department (WPD) announced today the death of ADOLFO S. SANCHEZ, age 34, whose last known address was in Wheeling. SANCHEZ died of gunshot wounds he received early Monday morning, as Agents from Mexico's Federal Investigative Agency (AFI) and Mexican State Police Officers attempted to arrest SANCHEZ at a family home located in a rural area in the State of Guanajuato. SANCHEZ, who is a Mexican national, has been the subject of an international manhunt since July of 2001, after being charged with the murder of a 20-year old Mt. Prospect woman, Jennifer Wiedemann. SANCHEZ is alleged to have shot Wiedemann to death, following her attempts to end her personal relationship with SANCHEZ. Wiedemann's body was found on July 21, 2001 in the Wheeling residence of SANCHEZ's brother, Augustin Sanchez, for whom Wiedemann worked as a live-in nanny. SANCHEZ was almost immediately linked to the crime as the result of investigation conducted by the WPD and a warrant for his arrest was issued in Cook County Court , two days later. However, SANCHEZ fled the state shortly after the crime was committed and was able to elude capture. A federal warrant charging SANCHEZ with unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) was obtained on July 25th and the search for SANCHEZ intensified. The SANCHEZ case was profiled three times on "America's Most Wanted" and locally in April of this year on "Chicago's Most Wanted". Reward offers of $20,000 were offered by the FBI and $100,000 by Wiedemann's father. These offers and publicity led to a tip being received by the Chicago FBI from an individual who had accurate and specific information regarding SANCHEZ's whereabouts. This information was forwarded to the FBI's legal attache assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, who in turn worked with the AFI to locate SANCHEZ. According to initial reports from the AFI, SANCHEZ attempted to avoid capture by fleeing the residence in which he was hiding. In so doing, he encountered AFI Agent Romero Aguayo, whom SANCHEZ shot and killed. SANCHEZ was then fatally wounded by gunfire from other Mexican agents and officers on the scene. No FBI personnel were involved in the attempted arrest or shooting. In announcing the death of SANCHEZ, Mr. Grant and Chief Stone both expressed their deepest regrets to the family and colleagues of AFI Agent Aguayo. "We are all too familiar with the pain that comes from the loss of a fellow law enforcement officer" said Grant. "The tragic and senseless murder of Agent Aguayo makes the resolution of this case bittersweet and underscores the dangers inherent in law enforcement". Plans are underway, both locally and in Washington, D.C., to establish a fund to benefit the family of Agent Aguayo, who was the married father of three. EDITOR's NOTE: Additional copies of the attached reward flyer and the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI Press Office at (312) 829-1199. |
