Michael Alfonso (murderer)

Michael Alfonso
Born
Michael Johnson

(1969-06-26) June 26, 1969 (age 55)
Illinois, U.S.
Other namesMichael A. Johnson
Michael Alfonso Johnson
Milton Lenon[2]
Adolfo Ruiz[3]
OccupationLaborer
Known forStalking, assaulting, and murdering ex-girlfriends
Conviction(s)First degree murder (x2)
Intentional homicide of an unborn child
Aggravated stalking
Kidnapping
Sexual assault (x2)
Concealment of homicidal death
Criminal possession of a weapon
Unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon
Aggravated battery
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment without parole
Details
Victims
  • Sumanear Yang, who was carrying his baby
  • Genoveva Franco Velasquez[1]
Span of crimes
1992–2001
CountryUnited States
State(s)Illinois
Location(s)DuPage and Kendall County
Date apprehended
July 15, 2004
Imprisoned atStateville Correctional Center

Michael Alfonso (born Michael Johnson; June 26, 1969) is an American former fugitive who was convicted of multiple felonies, including two counts of murder, in the state of Illinois. In January 2003, a year and half after the second 2001 murder, he was placed on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list, with a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.[4] After a year and half of being on the run, he was captured during a manhunt in Mexico and extradited back to the U.S.[5]

Alfonso's murders are disclosed and featured on Fox television series America's Most Wanted, Investigation Discovery series I (Almost) Got Away with It, and the Unsolved Mysteries series twice.

Prior convictions

Alfonso was convicted in 1990 of raping a 17-year-old girl repeatedly in an apartment complex lobby, and required to register as a sex offender.[6]

Five years later in 1995, he was convicted of aggravated battery and possession of a weapon by a felon and was sentenced to four years in prison; he was released in 1998.[6]

Flight and capture

After the second murder, on June 6, 2001, Alfonso went on the run and escaped to Mexico.[7] In January 2003, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) placed him on the bureau's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, as fugitive #476.[8][9]

The chase lasted over three years and covered three Central American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Within months of his listing on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Alfonso's crimes were featured across two episodes of the television show America's Most Wanted.[10] Due to the media coverage, Mexican federal agents and American FBI agents received many tips on Alfonso's whereabouts. Once his location was verified, FBI agents were dispatched to assist Mexican authorities with his capture.[7]

On July 15, 2004, he was captured and extradited back to the U.S. soon after.[11] He was charged with multiple crimes, including stalking, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, homicide of an unborn child, and murder.

Conviction and sentencing

Alfonso pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder for the slayings of Sumanear Yang, 23, and Genoveva "Gena" Franco-Velasquez, 28.[12][13] Yang, a hairstylist who was pregnant with Alfonso's child at the time, was shot to death in the parking lot of her Wheaton, Illinois, apartment complex in September 1992. Her body was found on November 8, 1992, near Yorkville, Illinois. Years later, in the summer of 2001, Michael Alfonso embarked on a new relationship with recently separated mother, Gena Velasquez. On June 5, 2001, Velasquez informed Alfonso that she and her husband were planning on fixing their marriage and getting back together. On June 6, 2001, Alfonso confronted Velasquez outside a McDonald's restaurant in Carol Stream, Illinois, where Velasquez was employed. An argument ensued, and Alfonso shot Velasquez several times at point blank range, killing her.

The prosecutor believed that Alfonso entered his guilty plea to avoid the possibility of a death sentence.[14][15]

Alfonso's fugitive case was reported on by the American docudrama series Unsolved Mysteries. The series used re-enactments and interviews with key persons to reveal the incidents of real mysteries that at that time were unsolved. (Episode information: season 12, episode 46; titled: "Wanted: Michael Alfonso"; originally aired on October 1, 2001.)[16][17][18]

Alfonso was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in January 2003. Within six months of his fugitive listing, the Fox television series America's Most Wanted[19] reported on Alfonso twice in March and May 2004.[10] FBI spokesman Frank Bochte announced, "He was arrested recently after a person in Mexico recognized him from the television show America's Most Wanted and called authorities."[20]

An episode of I (Almost) Got Away with It titled "Got Dumped" (season 1, episode 2),[21] a documentary series on the Investigation Discovery channel, originally aired on January 19, 2010. It reported on Alfonso's murders and violence against multiple women.[3] The documentary also covered his escape to Mexico, where he attempted to start a new life. While on the run, he attempted to live in parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize before returning to Mexico, where he was apprehended.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ Duchnowski, Jillian (January 17, 2011). "State's Attorney Says Death Penalty A Useful Tool in Some Cases". Yorkville, IL Patch. Patch Media. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. ^ "Michael Alfonso Mugshot - Michael Alfonso Arrest - Unsorted, IL". Mugshots.com. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "I (Almost) Got Away with It - Season 1 Episodes". Watchr Media. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "New fugitive on FBI's 'Top Ten' list". United Press International. WASHINGTON, (UPI): United Press International, Inc. January 23, 2003. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  5. ^ "State of Illinois | DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | Inmate Search Results". www.idoc.state.il.us. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Arrest warrant issued for suspect in killing of woman". WHEATON, Ill.: Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline. Associated Press. June 7, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Longtime Fugitive Nabbed in Mexico". Fox News. FOX News Network, LLC. Associated Press. July 16, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  8. ^ O'Connor, Matt; McNeil, Brett (July 17, 2004). "'Wanted' list fugitive found | Chicago Tribune". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  9. ^ "#476. Michael Alfonso - FBI". Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Government, Dept. of Justice. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "America's Most Wanted - Season 17 Episodes". Watchr Media. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  11. ^ BABWIN, DON (July 17, 2004). "Illinois man on FBI 10 Most Wanted list captured". Associated Press Writer. Chicago, IL.: NWI Times nwitimes.com. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  12. ^ Bradbery, Angela; Barnum, Art (November 11, 1992). "Body In Park Identified As Wheaton Hairstylist". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Tribune Publishing Company. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  13. ^ Coen, Jeff; Gregory, Ted; Chase, John; Barnum, Art; Spencer, LeAnn (June 7, 2001). "Suspect sought in slaying". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Tribune Publishing Company. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  14. ^ Halperin, Rick (July 12, 2007). "[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----IDAHO, KAN., ILL., USA". Washburn University School of Law Library. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  15. ^ Barnum, Art (July 12, 2007). "Killer of 2 girlfriends is given life in prison". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
  16. ^ Torres, Gabe (October 1, 2001). "Wanted: Michael Alfonso". IMDb. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  17. ^ "Unsolved Mysteries Season 12 Episode 46 Episode #493". OVGuide. October 1, 2001. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  18. ^ "Unsolved Mysteries: Episode #493". TV.com. October 1, 2001. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  19. ^ "AMW | Fugitives | Michael Alfonso | Case". America's Most Wanted. May 9, 2004. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  20. ^ Vries, Lloyd (July 16, 2004). "'Wanted' Show Nabs Another One". cbsnews.com. CBS Interactive Inc. Associated Press. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  21. ^ "Michael Alfonso | I (Almost) Got Away With It - Got Dumped". World News. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  22. ^ "Got Dumped | I (Almost) Got Away with It". investigationdiscovery.com. Discovery Communications, LLC. January 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018. Season 1 • Episode 2 The main suspect in the murder of a pregnant ex-girlfriend, and wanted for the shooting of a current one, Michael Alfonso is a jealous boyfriend who time and again turns to violence. It is Alfonso's criminal lifestyle that gets him caught. 44 min | TV-14 | Premiered January 19, 2010