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Mexican Drug Cartel Member Accused of Killing Colo. Man

by KREX News Room
by Christina Marrazza

Story Created: Oct 10, 2012 at 7:53 AM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 10, 2012 at 9:27 AM MDT

DENVER- Two years ago, an American named David Hartley disappeared while jet skiing with his wife on a lake near the Texas-Mexico border.

Salvador Alfonso Martinez Escobedo, a high ranking member of a Mexican drug cartel, is now accused of killing Hartley; he was arrested this week.

Tiffany Young-Hartley, the victim's widow, is still hoping for answers; she hopes this recent development will help bring closure. "Today obviously came as a shock ... What is his link to David, and where, and does he know where David's body is? Does he know where the remains are?"

On the day Hartley was killed the couple had crossed over to the Mexican side of Falcon Lake on jet skis.

Tiffany claims they came under fire, and David was shot in the head.

She says she tried to rescue her husband, but she was forced to flee when the gunmen began to pursue her in speed boats.

Hartley's body was never recovered.

"All we know is that Mexico has, the Mexican authorities have captured somebody, and they have him detained, who possibly had something to do with David's murder ... and also the other murders along the border and the mass graves," explained Tiffany.

Martinez has also been linked to the decapitation of the Mexican police commander who was investigating the case.

However, authorities say they suspect Martinez is the mastermind behind much more. They believe he is responsible for two separate prison breaks in Mexico that freed more than 280 prisoners, as well as the massacre of as many as 72 migrant workers and another 50 murders by his own hand.

CBS's Anna Werner contributed to this report.

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