Search Intensifies for Deputy's Killer

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Deputy James McGrane was 38-years-old when he was murdered.

 Deputy James McGrane's life would reach a horrible end a little after midnight on March 22, 2006.

Although he had been with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico for less than five years, he was well-known as a straight shooter who took pride in a job well done. Even during this cold late-night shift with light snow fall, McGrane set out to serve his community as best he could.

It was on rural New Mexico Highway 337 where Deputy McGrane signaled a pickup truck to pull over to the shoulder. Why he chose to pull the truck over is not clear, but witnesses say Astorga may not have been alone.  What cops say is clear is that Michael Astorga was the one who shot McGrane in the head with a 10mm glock handgun.

Man With A Violent Past

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Astorga's criminal record dates back to his years in high school.

Astorga is no stranger to the law. He is currently on probation after serving time for selling drugs, stealing cars and other property crimes. But these are the least violent of his alleged crimes.

Although he was acquitted on murder charges, he and his younger brother, Matthew, were arrested for the shooting death of Jose Sigala near Albuquerque High School, in 1996. His brother served five years for the crime and pled guilty during the retrial.

But in November,  just a few months before McGrane's murder, cops say Astorga's past came back to haunt him and he responded with murder. Cops say he shot and killed Candy Ray Martinez, who Astorga had seen as a long-time enemy.

Apparently his conflict with Martinez started back in 1996, when Astorga's 1959 El Camino lowrider was stolen while he was serving time. A warrant was issued in the same month, but Astorga had managed to stay low.   

One More Reason To Look

Now that Deputy McGrane has been senselessly  murdered, the search has intensified for Astorga.

Five law enforcement agenices in New Mexico sent out hundreds of officers to find tips about Astorga's whereabouts and those of his two companions in the truck.  

Within hours, officials had searched four residences, including the trailor Astorga shared with his pregnant girlfriend.  At 2:00 p.m. the next day, cops found his deserted truck. But so far no clues have brought justice to Bernalillo County or the families of Astorga's  alleged victims.     

Astorga Taken Down In Mexico

Police have spent the last 12 days hunting Michael Paul Astorga, the man accused of murdering a Bernalillo County, Albuquerque Sheriff's Deputy. But those officers are finally resting after capturing the FBI Top Ten fugitive.

According to police, 29-year-old Astorga was hiding in Juarez, Mexico -- just across the border from El Paso.

Although the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, the FBI, and Mexican law enforcement agencies say they collectively received more than 1,000 tips, it does not appear that the information leading to Astorga's capture was a direct result of any of those leads.

Law enforcement say they are elated to have captured Astorga so quickly.