A Notorious Fugitive Caught After Decades on the Run
In a stunning turn of events, a man who escaped from a Puerto Rican prison nearly 40 years ago was finally apprehended in Florida. Jorge Milla-Valdes, who broke free from custody in Puerto Rico in 1987, had been living under the assumed name Luis Aguirre. His prolonged life on the run came to an abrupt end when the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) tracked him down in Fort Myers Shores. This remarkable arrest is a testament to the relentless efforts of law enforcement and the enduring power of justice, even decades after a crime.
A Life of Crime and a Legacy of Evasion
Jorge Milla-Valdes’s criminal history dates back to the 1980s, when he was incarcerated in Puerto Rico for crimes including robbery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. His daring escape in 1987 sent shockwaves through the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, which believed he had assumed a new identity to evade capture. Over the years, Milla-Valdes managed to stay under the radar, and many likely assumed he had disappeared forever. However, his criminal activities didn’t stop after his escape. In Florida’s Monroe County, he accumulated additional charges for robbery and aggravated battery, further solidifying his reputation as a dangerous fugitive.
The Investigative Breakthrough That Ended His Freedom
The LCSO Fugitive Warrants Unit took on the challenge of tracking down Milla-Valdes, determined to bring him to justice. Their investigation began with a thorough search for any trace of his presence. A key breakthrough came when they obtained his original fingerprints from Puerto Rico, dated back to 1986, and compared them with a set from his criminal history in Monroe County. Latent Fingerprints Supervisor Tina Carver played a pivotal role in expediting the fingerprint comparison. Despite the more than 40 years that had passed since the prints were taken, Carver successfully matched them, confirming that "Luis Aguirre" was, in fact, the escaped fugitive Jorge Milla-Valdes.
A Swift Arrest and a Moment of Surrender
Within hours of the fingerprint match, the LCSO Fugitive Warrants Unit moved swiftly to apprehend Milla-Valdes. He was located in Fort Myers Shores and taken into custody without incident. As officers led him away, bodycam footage captured a telling exchange. When Milla-Valdes remarked, "They don’t want me. They told me about two times," an arresting officer responded firmly, "Now they do. They changed their mind." These words encapsulated the fugitive’s apparent disbelief at being caught after so many years, as well as the unwavering determination of the law enforcement officials who had dedicated themselves to his capture.
A Victory for Justice and a Warning to Fugitives
The arrest of Jorge Milla-Valdes is a significant victory for law enforcement and a powerful reminder that justice can be served no matter how much time has passed. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno praised his team’s efforts, stating, "My team’s skill is unmatched at every level; even if your crimes don’t start here in Lee County, I promise, they WILL end here." These words underscore the sheriff’s commitment to ensuring that no criminal, regardless of where their crimes were committed, can find safe haven in Lee County.
The End of a Long and Troubling Chapter
Jorge Milla-Valdes’s arrest marks the end of a chapter that spanned nearly four decades. His ability to evade capture for so long is a testament to the challenges law enforcement faces in pursuing fugitives who assume new identities and cross jurisdictional borders. However, this case also highlights the importance of perseverance and the critical role of technology, such as fingerprint analysis, in solving cold cases. As Milla-Valdes faces the consequences of his crimes, his story serves as a stark reminder that no matter how long it takes, justice will eventually prevail.
