$100,000 Reward Offered For Fugitive Bridegroom On The Lam: FBI

BURBANK, IL — It will be 11 years next month when Arnoldo Jimenez is alleged to have murdered his bride of less 24 hours, Estrella Carrera, 26, who was found stabbed to death in her Burbank condo. Yet, Burbank police are no closer to arresting Jimenez, now 42, than they were in 2012, who is believed to be hiding out in Mexico. His flight from the law was featured in an episode of “In Pursuit With John Walsh,” on the Discovery Channel.

Jimenez was charged with first degree murder, with state and federal warrants issued for his arrest in May 2012. He was placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List in 2019, and remains the only Chicagoan on the notorious list.

Jimenez and Carrera got married hastily at the Chicago City Hall. The couple was last seen in the early morning hours of May 12, 2012, after a night of celebrating their wedding with family and friends at a restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. The party continued at a nightclub on the city’s North Side.

When Carrera failed to pick up her two young children the next afternoon as planned, her family asked Burbank police to conduct a well-being check at her condo in the 7800 block of South Rutherford Avenue. Officers found her lifeless body in the bathtub, still wearing the same silver sequined cocktail dress she wore celebrating with family.

Burbank police believe Jimenez stabbed Carrera in his black, four-door 2006 Maserati before dragging her body up to her condo. Jimenez, the father of Carrera’s youngest child, was nowhere to be found. The Cook County Medical Examiner determined Carrera died of multiple stab wounds. Her death was ruled a homicide.

According to a 2012 federal warrant, Jimenez contacted his sister, telling her that he had a “bad fight” with Carrera and left her bleeding. He is also said to have had another conversation with a “close associate” stating that he was leaving Illinois. The Texas-born Jimenez reportedly said that if the police came looking for him, to tell law enforcement that he was heading to Mexico

His last contact on U.S. soil was at 10:45 p.m. May 13, 2012, Hidalgo, Texas, near the Mexican border. That's the last time Burbank police were able to track the phone.

Jimenez had prior arrests for domestic abuse, though not with Carerra, police said. Those close to the couple said there had been incidents of violence, but Carrera had never filed a complaint against him.

The FBI believes Jimenez may have fled to Durango, Mexico, specifically in the area of Santiago Papasquiaro. He is also known to frequent Tamaulipas, Mexico. He is previously from Chicago.

Jimenez has been known to travel under the aliases of “Arnoldo Gimenez” and “Arnoldo Rochel Jimenez.” Jimenez is a white Hispanic man, is 6 feet tall, 200 to 225 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Jimenez’s capture. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or contact the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.