ENNIS MURDER SUSPECT CAPTURED IN MEXICO

ENNIS – It is a murder case police in Ennis and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department did not allow to go cold.

Ennis Police said Jennifer Samantha Puente, 29, of Ennis was recently captured and arrested in Mexico, and has been extradited to the United States.

Puente faces one count of first-degree murder, and one count of tampering or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse, in relation to the murder of Moriah Gonzales, 15.

The victim’s burned remains were found in a field in Ennis on March 17, 2012, according to a press release from the Ellis County DA’s office at that time.

Puente has been on the run since that time.

A search warrant had been issued for both Puente and her boyfriend, Joe Alvarado, for the murder.

Alvarado was later sentenced to 34 years in prison for the murder and an additional 20 years for tampering with evidence.

Reportedly Alvarado will have to testify in court against Puente as part of his plea deal.

“This arrest is due to great teamwork and efforts from multiple agencies,” said a spokesperson for the Ennis Police Department, thanking the Texas Rangers, The Department of Public Service aircraft division, the US Marshals Service, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office and Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman.