MEXICO -- It took authorities less than five days to track a Houston murder suspect to Central Mexico after his wife's body was found stuffed in a refrigerator in Houston.
Patrick Lambert, like other fugitives, may have considered Mexico an easy way to escape the law.
"That's a misconception, a big, big misconception," said Robert Almonte, U.S. Marshall for the Western District of Texas.
U.S. and Mexican law enforcement work closely to track and capture fugitives.
"If it had not been for the effort of Mexican authorities, these fugitives would not be making their way back the US and facing charges," said Almonte.
Houston Police with the help of the FBI began the search for Patrick Lambert, 38 and his 11-month-old son, Achilles after the baby's mother, Anastacia Oalikhena Lambert, 27, was discovered stabbed and her body stuffed in a refrigerator at the couple's apartment.
Mexican authorities took Patrick Lambert into custody Friday evening in Queretaro. Houston Police say he abandoned little Achilles but the baby was not harmed. According to the Houston Police Department both father and baby will be returned to the U.S.
Along with cross border cooperation, the federal government at the border is doing more to keep an eye on who leaves the country. There are cameras and license plate readers pointed toward Mexico at several border crossings. And routine southbound searches have led to the arrest of fugitives wanted for a variety of crimes.
Social media and smart phones also make it harder to hide in Mexico. Now a fugitive photograph can quickly be seen practically anywhere and that can translate into tips for law enforcement.
The Houston Police Department is not providing many details about Lambert's capture but in this case and many others – the long arm of the law no longer stops at the border.
"You see old movies where people say let's go to Mexico. Let's run for the border and we're scott free. They won't catch us. That's not true. That's the furthest thing from the truth," said Almonte.
