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The U.S. Marshals Service announced Wednesday that Mexican
authorities arrested John Panaligan in Tepic on Monday.
Panaligan, 57, had been on the marshals’ 15 Most Wanted
Fugitives List since 2020.
Investigators allege he strangled 36-year-old real estate
attorney Victor Jigar Patel in his Northbrook, Illinois, office
in December 2016. Patel was representing plaintiffs suing
Panaligan in civil court.
Authorities believe Panaligan lured Patel to the office by
scheduling an appointment using an alias and showed up wearing a
disguise. Northbrook police questioned Panaligan about Patel's
death and executed multiple search warrants of his belongings
and property, but Panaligan fled before he could be arrested.
Authorities believed he was in the Philippines in 2017. He
maintains dual citizenship in the Philippines and the United
States, according to investigators.
The marshals said in a news release that Panaligan was
extradited to the U.S. on Tuesday. The service said in an email
to The Associated Press that he was in the Northbrook Police
Department's custody.
Asked if he has an attorney who could speak for him, the
marshals referred questions to the police department. A
voicemail the AP left with at with department's community
relations division Wednesday evening wasn't immediately
returned.
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