MAP:   Map of crime trail RELATED VIDEO Resendez-Ramirez has a long history with the law. CNN's Carol Lin has a timeline of his run-ins with authorities. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K What are the motives of a serial killer? CNN's Susan Candiotti has the report. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

July 13, 1999
Web posted at: 12:13 p.m. EDT (1613 GMT)

EL PASO, Texas (CNN) -- Rafael Resendez-Ramirez, the rail-riding fugitive suspected of killing at least eight people, has surrendered to U.S. authorities in Texas and was to be brought to Houston later in the day, the FBI said on Tuesday.

Resendez-Ramirez turned himself in after relatives -- who had knowledge of his whereabouts -- contacted authorities who then began secret negotiations to win the suspect's surrender.

"It was a surrender and it was based on some negotiations that we've been conducting over the last few days at the INS check point in El Paso," said Louis Freeh, FBI director. (1 MB/12 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Julieta Dominguez, the Mexican-born suspect's common-law wife, was flown to the United States last week for questioning. The sources said she has urged Resendez-Ramirez to give himself up.

Don Clark, the FBI special agent in charge of the investigation, has described Dominguez and her family as distraught over the allegations against Resendez-Ramirez. "She would like to see this come to a halt so her life can regain its normalcy," he told CNN on Sunday.

Additional details on the suspect's surrender were not immediately available, pending an expected news conference from federal authorities.

Resendez-Ramirez has been charged with two murders in Illinois and is wanted for questioning in six others -- five in Texas and one in Kentucky. All of the victims were killed in homes near railroad tracks.

In addition, he is a suspect in at least 14 other murders throughout the country, sources have told CNN.

Julieta Dominguez, the suspect's common-law wife, was flown to the United States last week for questioning

Texas Rangers also seized jewelry and clothing from the couple's home in Mexico that authorities believe may be linked to his victims. The items include 100 pieces of jewelry -- rings, bracelets, earrings and watches.

Resendez-Ramirez last month was put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

His real name is Angel Leoncio Reyes Recendis, according to a birth certificate. But because most of the public knows the wanted man as Resendez-Ramirez, the FBI continued to use that name.

The Justice Department is investigating why federal immigration agents, who arrested Resendez-Ramirez in New Mexico in early June, deported him to freedom in Mexico instead of holding him for other law enforcement agencies.

INS officials said the release happened before Resendez-Ramirez was labeled a serial murder suspect by the FBI.

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