Jorge Luis Villalón Torres

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A 48-year-old Mexican national, who had been living in the West Island since mid-2023, was arrested last week in connection with the murder of a teenager in Mexico’s Michoacán state.

Jorge Luis Villalón Torres, known by the alias “El Marino,” was apprehended at his local residence following an international extradition request from Mexican authorities. According to Mexican media reports, Torres is wanted for the murder of a 16-year-old youth that occurred on June 5, 2023, in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán. He reportedly fled to Canada shortly after the alleged crime.

Mexican investigators allege that the murder was an act of revenge against the teenager’s mother. The case has received significant attention in Michoacán, where the victim’s mother had publicly offered a 500,000-peso reward for information leading to Torres’s capture.

During his approximately nine months in the West Island, Torres had managed to establish himself in the community, with neighbours expressing shock upon learning of the serious charges against him. Sources familiar with the investigation indicate he had been living a quiet life, seemingly attempting to avoid detection.

The suspect is in custody and a Superior Court judge will hear the extradition matter. Court documents reveal that Mexican officials have formally requested his return to face murder charges in their jurisdiction.

The arrest demonstrates the increasing cooperation between Canadian and Mexican law enforcement agencies in addressing international criminal cases. Local police executed the arrest in coordination with federal authorities. n