Fugitive Wanted for Murder of Irving Mother and Daughter Captured in Honduras After Nearly Three Years on the Run

IRVING, Texas — A fugitive wanted for the January 2024 murders of an Irving mother and daughter has been captured in Honduras, bringing a major breakthrough in a case that has remained under investigation for nearly three years.

The Irving Police Department announced Tuesday, November 10, 2026, that Hector Vicente Paguada-Paguada, who faces two counts of capital murder in Dallas County, was arrested in the small town of Sabá, in Honduras' Colón Department.

Irving police were notified of his capture by the FBI on Saturday, November 7.

Paguada-Paguada is accused of shooting and killing 55-year-old Juana Medina-Rodriguez and her 23-year-old daughter, Nayeli Bolanos-Medina, in Irving in January 2024.

According to previous reporting by Irving Weekly, the two women were shot in front of the 5-year-old son of one of the victims.

The arrest was carried out by Honduras' Agencia Técnica de Investigación Criminal (ATIC), a specialized criminal investigative agency that works with international law enforcement partners, including the FBI.

Paguada-Paguada is now awaiting extradition to the United States to face the capital murder charges.

Suspect Fled to Honduras Following Double Murder

From the early stages of the investigation, Irving detectives believed Paguada-Paguada had fled to Honduras, his native country, after the killings.

Investigators determined that he had been in a dating relationship with Bolanos-Medina and that the relationship had a history of domestic violence.

A motive for the double homicide has not been publicly established.

As the search continued, Irving police appealed to the public for information about his whereabouts. The FBI also offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Detectives continued pursuing leads while working with federal authorities and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

In its November 10 announcement, the Irving Police Department credited the persistence of its investigators and the assistance of law enforcement partners for the breakthrough.

Four People Arrested for Allegedly Helping Fugitive Escape

The investigation into Paguada-Paguada's disappearance also led to the arrests of four people accused of helping him evade authorities or conceal evidence after the murders.

In January 2024, Irving police arrested Nicolle Stephanie Martinez-Tome, 34, and Yudi Mabel Paguada-Ruiz, 30.

Paguada-Ruiz, the fugitive's sister, was accused of moving the vehicle used in the murders to prevent detectives from locating it. She is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.

Martinez-Tome was also accused of helping dispose of the vehicle and deleting digital evidence connected to the investigation.

In February 2024, police arrested Yeferi Josue Aguilera-Hernandez, 32, after investigators determined he had transported Paguada-Paguada to Houston to help him evade capture.

During that investigation, authorities discovered child pornography on Aguilera-Hernandez's phone.

The charge related to assisting the fugitive was later dismissed after Aguilera-Hernandez received a seven-year prison sentence for possession of child pornography.

On April 30, 2024, Irving police arrested Escarleth Josett Mejia, 30, for her alleged role in coordinating Paguada-Paguada's escape from Irving to Houston.

All four individuals arrested in connection with assisting the fugitive were identified as being in the United States illegally.

Honduran Authorities Capture Fugitive in Sabá

The November 7 capture involved ATIC, a Honduran government investigative agency responsible for handling serious criminal investigations.   ATIC is Honduras' version of the FBI.

ATIC works with international partners on cases involving organized crime, fugitive tracking and cross-border investigations.

Paguada-Paguada's arrest in Sabá marked the end of a search that had continued since January 2024.

According to information provided about the extradition proceedings, Honduras' Supreme Court of Justice has approved his extradition.

Honduras and the United States maintain a bilateral extradition treaty. Although Honduras announced plans in August 2024 to terminate the agreement, the government later reversed course and maintained the treaty.

The treaty has historically been used to transfer high-profile figures to face charges in the U.S.  One such example is the extradition of  former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández as reported by the Justice Department.

Paguada-Paguada remains in Honduras pending his transfer to the United States, where he faces prosecution in Dallas County.

Irving Police Credit Detectives, FBI and Community

In announcing the capture, the Irving Police Department emphasized the work detectives have carried out since the murders.

For more than two years, investigators continued following leads and coordinating with other agencies in their effort to locate Paguada-Paguada and bring him back to face the charges.

The department thanked members of the public who provided information during the search.

Irving police also recognized the FBI and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office for their partnership and the investigative resources they contributed to the case.