By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A woman accused of murder in the death of her young daughter is in custody in Mexico after more than a decade as a fugitive, according to the United States Marshals Service.
Read more Hobbs outspends Biggs by millions in Arizona governor’s race
Anna Marlene Somoza, 60, was detained Sunday in Xochitepec, Mexico, authorities said. She is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Crystal Reyes and is awaiting extradition to Arizona.
According to authorities, human bone fragments found near Mobile in 1998 were identified in 2014 as Reyes through DNA analysis. Prosecutors allege Somoza and her boyfriend, Avelino Guzman Tamala, abused the girl over several years.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Tamala was a narcotics detective who had what the agency described as an improper romantic relationship with Somoza while she was acting as a confidential informant for an Arizona law enforcement agency.
Authorities allege the girl was confined in a small dog kennel, bound and gagged for extended periods and deprived of food. Authorities allege she was suffocated in 1997 and left inside a sealed box.
Tamala was convicted by a jury in 2016 of first-degree murder and sentenced to prison, according to court records.
Read more Tucson Medical Center completes $27M emergency department expansion
Attorney Juan Rocha, who teaches at Arizona State University, said extradition is a treaty process, not a trial of guilt or innocence. He said Mexico reviews identity, dual criminality and treaty authority.
“Extradition is not a criminal process, and it’s not even a civil process,” Rocha said. “It’s based on a country’s treaty with the United States and vice versa.”
Rocha said Mexico often seeks assurance the death penalty will not be pursued. Prosecutors have not publicly said whether they will seek it against Somoza.
Rocha said extradition cases he has seen took six to 18 months.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Read more Caught on camera: Buckeye mom fights intruder in driveway