A fugitive accused of shooting a stripper from his car on Interstate 81 more than six years ago has been apprehended in his native Colombia.
Fugitive John Caro, 29, may soon be on his way back to Lackawanna County to face attempted criminal homicide charges. He is accused of shooting the woman in the face and neck from his car on New Year's Eve 2006.
According to state police, the extreme act of road rage began at a White Haven strip club, Planet Pocono. Details of the incident aired in a February 2012 broadcast of "America's Most Wanted," identifying the victim, Darleen Thomas, a dancer at the club. She and Mr. Caro, who was 22 at the time, got into a dispute and he followed her and two companions from the club on a 40-mile ride north on I-81.
Then things got more dangerous. Also known as "Blaze," Mr. Caro pulled his car alongside Ms. Thomas' vehicle on the strip of I-81 between Moosic and Clarks Summit, then pulled out a gun and shot her, state troopers said. Ms. Thomas survived, and recounted the harrowing story for "America's Most Wanted" producers. She was unable to be reached Thursday.
The Sunday Times recently featured Mr. Caro in the paper's March 17 "Most Wanted" column.
Mr. Caro is a Colombian native, considered a permanent resident alien of the United States at the time of the crime, said Martin J. Pane, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
While Mr. Caro can waive the extradition process, it is more likely he will fight it, pushing the issue to the Colombian Supreme Court. In the vast majority of cases, the court has been cooperative in extraditions, Mr. Pane said. While the odds are good, the court review could take as long as a year, he said, as Mr. Caro remains in Colombian custody.
"This man is accused of trying to kill this woman, and for seven years, she didn't know if she was safe, or if he was going to come after her again," Mr. Pane said. "I hope his apprehension has given her peace of mind."
The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force followed leads in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Arizona and North Carolina before Mr. Caro's trail and leads from the television show led them to South America. Marshals coordinated with a range of national and international law enforcement and diplomatic agencies to apprehend Mr. Caro.
Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com