The unidentified man and woman, USA citizens who are believed to be from Whittier, Calif., were arrested by Mexican officials who discovered the deceased infant when processing the duffel bag through an X-ray machine at about 11:30 a.m., San Diego Police Lt.
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Police were contacted about noon by Mexican law enforcement, who reported that Hartley and Becerra had been stopped by customs agents at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
Johnny Lewis Hartley, 39, and Mercy Mary Becerra, 43, were arrested midday Tuesday, a news release from the San Diego Police Department said. There, officials put the bag through an X-ray machine and saw the small body, Valentin said.
Authorities arrested a couple who attempted to enter Mexico carrying a duffle bag containing the body of a 2-year-old child inside, which may be connected to an incident in Whittier.
The suspects were each booked into jail on one count of murder and one count of child cruelty.
Anyone with information related to the case was encouraged to call the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Because San Diego detectives believe the child may have died in Whittier, Valentin said they are working closely with Whittier police detectives in the investigation. Valentin said when Hartley was detained, the woman ran off, but was caught a short time later and also detained.
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Becerra was soon taken into custody by Mexican authorities, and the pair were turned over to US investigators.
