Advertisement

Victor Andrade, who turns 27 on Sunday, will spend his birthday behind bars.

"Mexican authorities took him into custody May 8," said Lapeer County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Parks. "He's been on the most wanted list for almost six years. We never gave up."

A team of Parks, Lapeer County Prosecutor Byron Konschuh, assistant prosecutor Tom Sparrow, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice, and tips generated by" America's Most Wanted" television show are credited with the former Imlay City man's capture.

Andrade was being sought on second degree murder charges for the traffic death of Renee Woodward, then 18, of Lapeer Township. According to police reports, Andrade, then 21, picked up some teens who went to his motel room and partied on Sept. 13, 2002. Then Andrade and passengers Melissa Hartwick, then 13, Melinda Higgason, then 18, and April Wills, then 18, all of Imlay City, piled into his Chevrolet Cavalier to pick up Woodward, who was friends with the three teens.

Andrade, who was trying to impress his passengers, began speeding on eastbound Newark Road.

"They were screaming and they begged him to stop," Parks said. "They knew the stop sign was approaching and he blew right through it."

Andrade disregarded the stop sign at Lake Pleasant Road and drove into the path of Sara Shaw, then 19, of Metamora. The impact caused both vehicles to spin, coming to rest off the roadway. Shaw's vehicle caught on fire. Woodward, then a senior at Lapeer East High School, was killed.

Following an investigation by Parks, a warrant for second degree murder was issued by Lapeer County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tim Turkelson. But right before the warrant was issued, Andrade vanished.

"We never stopped looking," Parks said. "We contacted the FBI in Flint and obtained a Flight from Prosecution warrant. We got tips locally. We contacted America's Most Wanted and ended up generating tips in Montana, Georgia and Oregon. We followed up on those tips."

Law enforcement received information that Andrade, who is a Mexican citizen, was living in Mexico. They obtained a provisional warrant through the U.S. Department of Justice.

"Byron said go ahead and do it," Parks said. "He was a really big supporter of finding him and said to do what it took. He assigned Tom Sparrow to the case. He did a really good job. He was relentless."

If Andrade waives extradition, he could be in Lapeer County in a matter of weeks. If he fights, there will be a hearing on that matter in Mexico.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed," Konschuh said. "It's been a long wait for the victim's family."

The three other passengers in the Andrade's car have recovered from their injuries and live in Michigan. All are in contact with the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com.