Lake County murder suspect found to be in country illegally during July 7 traffic stop
PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- Lake County sheriff's deputies learned that Juan Emmanuel Razo was in the U.S. illegally from Mexico more than two weeks before his arrest in the death of a 60-year-old Concord Township woman.
Razo made his first court appearance Tuesday in the death of Margaret Kostelnik where a judge set a $10 million bond. He's also accused in the attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl and the shooting of another woman who survived.
Razo pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder, but still faces possible murder and other charges in connection to the other incidents.
Lake County Sheriff's Det. Brian Butler said during the court hearing that during a July 7 traffic stop, deputies contacted border patrol agents who advised the sheriff's office not to detain Razo despite his status as an undocumented immigrant.
Razo, who spoke with the aid of a Spanish translator, told Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti at the hearing that he doesn't have a passport or a green card.
Cicconetti expressed frustration at Razo's lack of documentation.
Razo told Cicconetti he has a birth certificate from Mexico, to which the judge replied, "That doesn't help you here in the United States."
Razo has lived in the country for five years and has no local criminal history, the sheriff's office said Tuesday.
In response to a request for information, Customs and Border Protection spokesman Jaime Ruiz issued a statement that said, "we're looking at the facts of the case to find out exactly what happened."
Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the agency "intends to take custody of [Razo] and pursue his removal from the United States."
Razo's illegal status may hit a nerve for many at a time when immigration is a hot button political issue. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump just last month criticized Mexican immigrants, characterizing them as criminals and rapists. Trump will be in Cleveland next week for a debate.
The of violent events of Monday left neighbors of the rural Concord Township and the surrounding areas on edge. Investigators have not revealed any information about Razo's possible motive.
A 14-year-old girl told police that Razo tried to rape her about 10:40 a.m. in Helen Hazen Wyman Park in Concord Township.
Detectives canvassed the area looking for Razo. They also searched his Lusard Street home in Painesville, but didn't find him.
As the search continued, Lake Metroparks rangers were called to a shooting near the Greenway Corridor.
A 40-year-old woman was found along the bike path with a gunshot wound to her arm. Her two 12-year-old children were unharmed.
Paramedics took the woman to the Tripoint Medical Center, where she was treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Investigators widened their search area, driving an armored vehicle along the bike path. Officials sent a reverse 911 call to residents within a half-mile radius telling them to stay inside their homes.
Officials called in help from surrounding police departments, including two K-9 units.
It was during this search that a deputy was flagged down by Kostelnik's husband. He told detectives he just found his wife dead in their Ravenna Road home with several gunshot wounds.
The Kostelniks' Ravenna Road home is directly behind the bike path where the woman was shot
A man at about 4:30 p.m. called 911 reporting a man – later found to be Razo – was in his back yard pointing a rifle at his son.
Three deputies rushed to Palmer Road in Concord Township, where they found Razo.
Razo shot at deputies, according to reports. The deputies fired back at Razo, who jumped behind a large boulder.
The deputies ordered Razo to surrender, which he did. He was taken into custody.
A preliminary hearing is set for 8 a.m. August 3.
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