Kentucky Murder Fugitive

Mariano Garcia Aguilar Suspected of Killing a Woman in Pulaski County

In Kentucky, fugitive Mariano Garcia Aguilar is most wanted for the murder of a Latino woman, Irene Gutierrez. Pulaski County Sheriff's Department has been searching for Mariano Garcia Aguilar, a.k.a. Aguilar Mariana Garcia a.k.a. Jose Guerra since April 25, 2007, after sheriff's deputies discovered physical evidence suggesting Gutierrez had been shot by Aguilar during a violent altercation. Initially, responding to a report of a shooting at 4931 Grundy Road in Somerset, Sheriff's deputies immediately suspected murder due to the amount of blood found at the crime scene. However, they could not find the body of Irene Gutierrez, which prompted the activation of the Pulaski County Major Crime Task Force and a tri-state missing person hunt for the woman.

As the search for Irene Gutierrez a resident of White House, Tennessee began, the Pulaski County Major Crime Task Force consisting of detectives with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department, the Somerset Police Department and the Kentucky State Police contacted Gutierrez family members in Tennessee, but none has seen or heard from Irene for several days. Gutierrez's estranged husband confirmed that his wife had packed a suitcase several weeks ago earlier and left to stay with her brothers in Sumner County, Tennessee. Unfortunately, Irene still could not be found.

Then a break came in the investigation. A vehicle belonging to Irene Gutierrez was discovered abandoned along New Holland Road in Wagener, South Carolina, near a bridge spanning the Edisto River. Physical evidence clearly revealed Irene was dead and had been placed in the trunk of her charcoal gray 1999 Chrysler 300. Aiken County Department enlisted the assistance of South Carolina Department of Natural Resources divers to search the Edisto River approximately 7,500 feet downstream from the bridge, but neither the bodies of Gutierrez nor Aguilar were found. However, in the meantime, the Task Force learnt that Aguilar was a migrant farm worker with ties to the farming community in northern Pulaski and southern Lincoln and Rockcastle counties, and he may have family in South Carolina. Therefore, a working hypothesis is Aguilar may have abandoned the Chrysler 300 while heading south to seek refuge with his family in South Carolina.

Eventually, the body of Irene Gutierrez (pictured below) was discovered floating in a pond in Somerset, Kentucky. The Kentucky Medical Examiner's office confirmed through dental records that the body found was that of 43-year-old Irene Gutierrez of White House, Tennessee. While Pulaski County Coroner Richard New announced that Gutierrez died of gunshot wounds.

On May 3, 2007, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Mariano Garcia Aguilar was issued charging him with murder and tampering with physical evidence. Notwithstanding, Aguilar has remained a suspected fugitive killer at-large since that time.

The Pulaski County Sheriff Office located in Somerset, Kentucky midway between Lexington, Kentucky and Knoxville, Tennessee. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of fugitive murderer, Mariano Garcia Aguilar, should contact the Pulaski County Sheriff Office at (606) 678-5145, or call your local law enforcement agency.