Brick Woman Sought In Wife's Killing Caught In Texas: Prosecutor

BRICK, NJ — A Brick Township woman sought in the killing of her wife has been arrested in Houston, Texas, the Ocean County prosecutor's office announced Thursday morning.

Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus, 48, of Brick, was apprehended Wednesday by FBI officers, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Houston Police Department, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

She was charged Monday with the murder of her wife, Rebecca Gavilanez-Alectus, 32, who was found dead Sunday in an upstairs bedroom of their Creek Road home, authorities said. She had been beaten to death with a wine chiller, the prosecutor's office said. Read more: Brick Woman Sought In Killing Of Her Wife: Prosecutor

"It is our understanding that Gavilanez-Alectus traveled to Houston from New York City by bus," Billhimer said. "We will immediately begin extradition proceedings to bring Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus back to Ocean County to answer for these charges. Justice for Rebecca Gavilanez-Alectus weighs heavy on all of our minds."

Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus was ultimately tracked down and taken into custody by law enforcement in Houston and is being held in the Harris County Jail in Houston, he said.

"I am extremely grateful for the support of our federal law enforcement partners, as well as our law enforcement partners in Houston, Texas," Billhimer said. "It is extremely satisfying when law enforcement works together and we are able to get a dangerous person like Mayra Gavilanez-Alectus into custody."

Billhimer and Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio thanked the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, Brick Township Police Department, Brick Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, New York Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and Houston Police Department for their efforts.

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