Mexican police capture suspect in 2016 Illinois murder

WASHINGTON, DC — Mexican police have arrested a man suspected of strangling an Illinois lawyer to death nearly eight years ago.

The U.S. Marshals Service announced Wednesday that Mexican authorities arrested John Panaligan in Tepic on Monday. Panaligan, 57, had been on the Marshals’ list of 15 most wanted fugitives since 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 suing Panaligan in civil court.

Authorities believe Panaligan lured Patel to the office by setting up an appointment using an alias and showed up in disguise. Northbrook police questioned Panaligan regarding Patel’s death and executed several search warrants regarding his property and belongings, but Panaligan fled before he could be arrested.

Authorities believed he was in the Philippines in 2017. He maintains dual Filipino and American citizenship, according to investigators.

Marshals said in a news release that Panaligan was extradited to the United States on Tuesday. The department said in an email to The Associated Press that he is in the custody of the Northbrook Police Department.

When asked if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf, commissioners referred their questions to the police department. A voicemail left by the AP with the department’s community relations division Wednesday evening was not immediately returned.