EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Fort Bliss Soldier Accused Of Killing Woman In Juarez Was Just Extradited
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Fort Bliss Soldier Accused Of Killing Woman In Juarez Was Just Extradited
This is one of the few times a U.S. military gets extradited to Mexico.
EL PASO.— A Fort Bliss soldier accused of killing a 19-year-old woman in Ciudad Juarez in 2023 was just extradited to Mexico to face murder charges.
Saul Luna Villa, 23, will be facing murder charges that allegedly took place in Ciudad Juarez.
Luna Villa allegedly killed his girlfriend Aylin Valenzuela by stabbing her five times and shooting her another five, according to official documents.
The mother described the couple’s relationship as one filled with arguments often sparked by Luna Villa’s possessiveness and jealousy. During fights, Luna Villa would push her around and insult her.
Luna Villa traveled across the border on April 7 to meet with Valenzuela despite a base policy that prohibits soldiers from traveling into Juarez and other parts of Mexico. The woman’s mother told Mexican police that her daughter rode in an Uber from her home to meet Luna Villa.
The Uber driver later told police that he dropped off Valenzuela and saw her get directly into a black GMC truck with a man wearing a white shirt.
Valenzuela sent a photo of herself to her mother’s cellphone at about 7:20 p.m. that showed Luna Villa’s arm in the photo, which she said was distinguishable because of his tattoos, according to court documents. About five minutes later, Luna Villa called the woman’s mother to ask if she was home. The mother replied with surprise and said she had just received the photo of her daughter with him. She then hung up and tried unsuccessfully to call her daughter. Luna Villa called the mother again about 10 minutes later asking if she knew Valenzuela’s location, according to court documents. Meanwhile, at about 7:24 p.m., a call was made to police about the discovery of a dead body.
Valenzuela’s body was found dead in one of Juarez’ most violent neighborhoods.
Luna Villa had been stationed at Fort Bliss for two years and has multiple domestic violence reports.
El Paso’s agents at the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Luna Villa while he was still on duty at Fort Bliss. He was immediately put in jail.
“This is a reminder to everyone that no one is above the law,” one of the agents who asked to remain anonymous told saga.