HSI Kansas City makes major contributions to bringing 20-year fugitive to face justice for murder

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The tenacity and perseverance of Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City agents led to a 20-year homicide case being closed and a convicted murderer being brought to justice.

Angel Maria Herrera, 43, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2005 murder of Maria Morfin in Lenexa, Kansas. Known as a "Hard 50," this is considered a life sentence.

Herrera fled the United States following the crime but was later found in El Salvador and extradited to the United States in September 2024.

HSI Kansas City agents organized and coordinated the two witnesses' travel to the United States to testify against Herrera in the case. Their testimony led to Herrera's Jan. 20 conviction for premeditated first-degree murder and aggravated burglary.

"Justice transcends time and distance," said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. "I'm extremely proud of our agents for working with multiple partner agencies to bring these two key witnesses to the United States to provide crucial testimony. While we can't bring the victim back, we can bring closure to her friends and family, and reassurance to the public that HSI never gives up in our efforts to hold criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

The two witness parolees were a result of the combined efforts between the Johnson County District Attorney's office, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection port directors in both Kansas City and Houston, the parole unit at HSI headquarters in Washington D.C., and the HSI Representative in Mexico City.