Suspect of lawyer’s murder arrested after almost 8 years on the run

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police in Mexico have arrested a man suspected of strangling an Illinois lawyer nearly eight years ago.

The U.S. Marshals Service announced Wednesday that Mexican authorities arrested John Panaligan in Tepic on Monday. Panaligan, 57, was on the marshals’ 15 most wanted fugitives list as of 2020.

Investigators allege he strangled 36-year-old real estate attorney Victor Jigar Patel in his Northbrook, Illinois office in December 2016. Patel represented the plaintiffs who sued Panaligan in civil court.

Authorities believe Panaligan lured Patel to the office by arranging an appointment under an alias, then showed up in disguise. Northbrook police questioned Panaligan about Patel’s death and executed multiple search warrants for his belongings and property, but Panaligan fled before he could be arrested.

Authorities believed he was in the Philippines in 2017. According to investigators, he has dual citizenship in the Philippines and the United States.

The marshals said in a news release that Panaligan was extradited to the U.S. on Tuesday. The agency said in an email to The Associated Press that he was in the custody of Northbrook police.

When asked if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, the marshals referred him to the police station. A voicemail left by the AP with the department’s community relations division Wednesday evening was not immediately returned.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.