Authorities have apprehended a fugitive mother accused of killing her young son, marking a significant breakthrough in a case that spanned continents and evaded resolution for over two years.
According to an ABC News report, Cindy Rodriguez Singh was arrested following her placement on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, where she faced charges related to the capital murder of her 6-year-old son, Noel Alvarez. The announcement came from FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday, highlighting collaborative efforts that led to her capture.
Rodriguez Singh, 40, had been sought since charges were filed against her in October 2023 in the Tarrant County district court for capital murder of a person under 10 years old. A federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution followed a month later, intensifying the manhunt that eventually placed her among the FBI's top targets in July, with a reward offer of up to $250,000 for tips leading to her arrest and conviction.
Fugitive's Flight Sparks Investigation
Noel Alvarez disappeared from sight in October 2022 in Everman, Texas, where the family resided, and police noted he appeared unhealthy and malnourished around the time his twin sisters were born. Authorities presume the boy is dead, as his body has never been located despite extensive searches by state and federal teams.
On March 20, 2023, Everman police performed a welfare check on Noel at the behest of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. During this encounter, Rodriguez Singh reportedly provided false information to officers, claiming Noel had been residing with his biological father in Mexico since November 2022.
Just two days after the welfare check, Rodriguez Singh departed on a flight to India, accompanied by her husband and six other children, but Noel was notably absent from the trip. Local police discovered she had obtained passports for all her children except Noel in November 2022, raising further suspicions about her involvement in his fate.
Details Emerge on Child's Last Days
Noel was last observed alive in a condition that alarmed observers, described by police as looking malnourished and in poor health during the period surrounding his sisters' birth. This observation became a key element in the investigation, prompting concerns from child protective services that led to the welfare check.
Rodriguez Singh's alleged deception during the police interview compounded the case against her, as investigators determined her story about sending Noel to Mexico lacked evidence. The boy's presumed death status was established by authorities after exhaustive efforts failed to locate him alive or confirm his whereabouts.
The family's sudden relocation to India without Noel intensified scrutiny, with the FBI noting that Rodriguez Singh has not returned to the United States since that flight. This move came amid growing suspicions, culminating in formal charges that elevated her to fugitive status.
FBI Credits Teamwork in Capture
FBI Director Kash Patel publicly acknowledged the roles of local Texas partners, the Justice Department, and Indian authorities in facilitating the arrest, though specifics on the timing and location of the capture were not disclosed. Patel emphasized the collaborative nature of the operation in his statement.
In a post on X, Patel stated, "This is the 4th '10 Most Wanted' fugitive arrested in the last 7 months." He added, "That's a credit to tremendous field work, law enforcement partners, intelligence operatives, and an administration who is letting good cops do their jobs."
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also commented on the development via X, expressing relief at the outcome. Cruz said he is "glad to see Rodriguez Singh being brought back to Texas from India, where she will finally face justice for the alleged heinous crime of murdering her child."
