A chilling case closed last week with the arrest of Cesar Orlando Castro Serrano, a fugitive wanted since 2023 for a brutal attack in Texas. Serrano, originally from El Salvador, was apprehended by federal agents in Katy, a suburb of Houston, bringing an end to a two-year manhunt.
The charges against Serrano are harrowing. He is accused of savagely beating a 22-year-old woman with a tire iron, then sexually assaulting her and abandoning her in a wooded area, leaving her for dead.
The attack occurred in February 2023, and the victim was left in critical condition. Authorities describe the act as a particularly heinous crime, emphasizing the brutality inflicted upon the young woman.
Serrano’s history in the United States dates back to 2015, when he entered the country illegally. Despite an order for deportation issued by an immigration judge in 2016, he remained at large for years, evading capture.
Following his arrest, Serrano was turned over to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to face the charges of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated kidnapping. Federal authorities have also filed a detainer, ensuring they are notified should he be released from local custody.
The arrest represents the culmination of a relentless pursuit by ICE agents. The case underscores the commitment to bringing violent offenders to justice, regardless of their immigration status.
