Porfirio Duarte-Herrera who escaped from a Nevada prison last month is now being held in a high-security penitentiary, reports said. The head of the state’s corrections department has stepped down as a result of the controversy over the Luxor casino fatal bomber’s breakout.
Porfirio Duarte-Herrera, left, pictured above in an earlier court hearing. He is now held in a maximum-security prison following his escape last month. (Image: Las Vegas Sun)
The 42-year-old inmate was placed in the Ely State Prison, KLAS, a local TV station, reported. It is a maximum-security penitentiary.
Duarte-Herrera had been serving a life sentence at the Southern Desert Correctional Center for the murder of Willebaldo Dorantes Antonio. It is located in Indian Springs.
He escaped from his cell on Sept. 23 after applying acid on the window casing of the cell. He left a cardboard dummy in the cell to confuse guards.
Several days later, he was located in Las Vegas trying to board a bus heading to Tijuana, Mexico.
Man Who Recognized Escapee Identified
Gabriel Delgadillo, a Las Vegas Shuttles manager, was the person who notified local police after spotting someone who matched the description of Duarte-Herrera. Initially, he was reluctant to call 911 but nevertheless chose to do so, KLAS reported.
There were multiple controversies over the incident, such as the delay in reporting the escape and the fact he even escaped.
In recent days, Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) Director Charles Daniels quit his job under pressure from Gov. Steve Sisolak, D, KLAS said. NDOC William Gittere, the department’s deputy director of operations, will become interim director.
In addition, a half dozen corrections department officers were placed on paid administrative leave. It appears their actions in connection with the escape will be reviewed in a state inquiry.
Sisolak Says Never Again
The situation with the escaped inmate is a serious and unacceptable breach of protocol,” Sisolak said in a recent statement. “I’m grateful the escapee was captured quickly. But let me be clear, this cannot happen again.”
Sisolak wants those responsible to “be held accountable.”
The incident “ultimately ended well,” Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, R, added during a press conference last week. Lombardo credited the efforts by investigative agencies and the media for publicizing and distributing the suspect’s photo. That led to him be recognized and apprehended.
Lombardo is challenging Sisolak in November’s race for governor.
Before this incident, Daniels was criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state’s prisons. There was concern over the number of prisoners who died from the virus. NDOC employees also complained about the department’s work environment.
In 2010, Duarte-Herrera and a second suspect, Omar Rueda-Denvers, were convicted in the 2007 death of Antonio. He picked up a coffee cup in the Luxor’s garage which held a bomb. The explosion led to several injuries to Antonio. He later died. The incident stemmed from a love triangle.
Duarte-Herrera and Rueda-Denvers will never be able to qualify for parole. Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty for the two defendants.
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