Michael Alfonso (murderer)

Michael Alfonso (born Michael Johnson; June 26, 1969 in Illinois) is a former American fugitive who was convicted of multiple felonies, including two counts of murder, in the state of Illinois. In January 2003, a year and half after the second 2001 murder, he was placed on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, with a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.[8] After a year and half of being on the run he was captured during a manhunt in Mexico and extradited back to the U.S.

Michael Alfonso
Born
Michael Johnson[1]

(1969-06-26) June 26, 1969[2]
Illinois[3]
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMichael A. Johnson
Michael Alfonso Johnson
Milton Lenon[4]
Adolfo Ruiz[5]
OccupationLaborer
Known forStalking, assaulting, and murdering ex-girlfriends
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Criminal charge
  • Two counts murder/intent to kill/injure
  • One count intent/homicide/unborn child
  • One count aggravated stalking/bodily harm
  • One count conceal homicidal death
  • One count kidnapping/secretly confine
  • One count felony possession/use of weapon/firearm
  • One count aggravated battery/great bodily harm
  • Two counts criminal sex assault/force [2]
PenaltyThree life terms [6]
Details
Victims
  • Sumanear Yang, who was carrying his baby
  • Genoveva Franco Velasquez[7]
Span of crimes
1992–2001
CountryUnited States
State(s)Illinois
Location(s)DuPage and Kendall County[6]
Date apprehended
15 July 2004
Imprisoned atStateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois[2]

Alfonso's murders are disclosed and featured on Fox television series America's Most Wanted, Investigation Discovery series I (Almost) Got Away With It and the Unsolved Mysteries series twice.

Prior convictions

Alfonso was convicted in 1990 of raping a 17-year-old girl repeatedly in an apartment complex lobby, making him a registered sex offender.[9]

Five years later in 1995, he was convicted of aggravated battery and possession of a weapon by a felon and was sentenced to four years in prison, he was released in 1998.[9]

Flight and capture

After the second murder, on June 6, 2001, Alfonso went on the run and escaped to Mexico.[10] In January 2003, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) placed him on the bureau's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, as fugitive #476.[11][12]

The chase lasted over three years and covered three Central American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. Within months of his listing on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Alfonso's crimes were featured across two episodes of the television show America's Most Wanted.[13] Due to the media coverage, Mexican federal agents and American FBI agents received many tips on Alfonso's whereabouts. Once his location was verified, FBI agents were dispatched to assist Mexican authorities with his capture.[10]

On July 15, 2004, he was captured and extradited back to the U.S. soon after.[14] He was charged with multiple crimes, including stalking, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, homicide of an unborn child, and murder.

Conviction and sentencing

Alfonso pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder for the slayings of Sumanear Yang, 23, in 1992 and Genoveva Franco Velasquez, 28, in 2001.[15] [16] The prosecutor believed that Alfonso entered his guilty plea to avoid the possibility of a death sentence.[17][6]

Alsonso's fugitive case was reported on by the American docudrama series Unsolved Mysteries. The series used re-enactments and interviews with key persons to reveal the incidents of real mysteries that at that time were unsolved. Episode information, Season 12, Episode 46; Titled: 'Wanted: Michael Alfonso', originally aired; Oct 01, 2001.[18][19][20]

Alfonso was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in January 2003. Within six months of his fugitive listing, the Fox television series America's Most Wanted[21] reported on Alfonso twice in March and May 2004.[13] FBI spokesman Frank Bochte announced, "He was arrested recently after a person in Mexico recognized him from the television show America's Most Wanted and called authorities."[22]

An episode of I (Almost) Got Away With It, titled; 'Got Dumped' (season 1, episode 2)[23] an American documentary television series on the Investigation Discovery channel, originally aired on January 19, 2010. It reported on Alfonso's murders and violence against multiple women.[5] The documentary also covered his escape to Mexico, where he attempted to start a new life. While on the run, he attempted to live in parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize before returning to Mexico, where he was apprehended.[24]

See also

References
  1. "DuPage County IL Official Website - Michael Alfonso Sentenced to Natural Life for Murder of Two Former Girlfriends". www.dupageco.org. DuPage County. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. "Illinois Depart of Corrections". InmateSearch.aspx. State of Illinois. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  3. "Background Page". www.straightshooter.net. CUFF - Citizens United to Find Fugitives. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  4. "Michael Alfonso Mugshot - Michael Alfonso Arrest - Unsorted, IL". Mugshots.com. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  5. "I (Almost) Got Away with It - Season 1 Episodes". Watchr Media. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  6. Barnum, Art (July 12, 2007). "Killer of 2 girlfriends is given life in prison". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  7. Duchnowski, Jillian (17 January 2011). "State's Attorney Says Death Penalty A Useful Tool in Some Cases". Yorkville, IL Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  8. "New fugitive on FBI's 'Top Ten' list". United Press International. WASHINGTON, (UPI): United Press International, Inc. 23 January 2003. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  9. "Arrest warrant issued for suspect in killing of woman". Associated Press. WHEATON, Ill.: Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline. 7 Jun 2001. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  10. "Longtime Fugitive Nabbed in Mexico". Fox News. FOX News Network, LLC. Associated Press. July 16, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  11. O'Connor, Matt; McNeil, Brett (17 July 2004). "'Wanted' list fugitive found | Chicago Tribune". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  12. "#476. Michael Alfonso - FBI". Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Government, Dept. of Justice. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  13. "America's Most Wanted - Season 17 Episodes". Watchr Media. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  14. BABWIN, DON (17 Jul 2004). "Illinois man on FBI 10 Most Wanted list captured". Associated Press Writer. Chicago, IL.: NWI Times nwitimes.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  15. Bradbery, Angela; Barnum, Art (November 11, 1992). "Body In Park Identified As Wheaton Hairstylist". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Tribune Publishing Company. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  16. Coen, Jeff; Gregory, Ted; Chase, John; Barnum, Art; Spencer, LeAnn (June 7, 2001). "Suspect sought in slaying". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Tribune Publishing Company. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  17. Halperin, Rick (July 12, 2007). "[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----IDAHO, KAN., ILL., USA". Washburn University School of Law Library. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  18. Torres, Gabe (1 October 2001). "Wanted: Michael Alfonso". Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  19. "Unsolved Mysteries Season 12 Episode 46 Episode #493". OVGuide. 1 October 2001. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  20. "Unsolved Mysteries: Episode #493". TV.com. 1 October 2001. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  21. "AMW | Fugitives | Michael Alfonso | Case". America's Most Wanted. 9 May 2004. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  22. Vries, Lloyd (July 16, 2004). "'Wanted' Show Nabs Another One". www.cbsnews.com. CBS Interactive Inc. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  23. "Michael Alfonso | I (Almost) Got Away With It - Got Dumped". World News. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  24. "Got Dumped | I (Almost) Got Away with It". www.investigationdiscovery.com. Discovery Communications, LLC. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018. Season 1 • Episode 2 The main suspect in the murder of a pregnant ex-girlfriend, and wanted for the shooting of a current one, Michael Alfonso is a jealous boyfriend who time and again turns to violence. It is Alfonso's criminal lifestyle that gets him caught. 44 min | TV-14 | Premiered 01/19/2010
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