Samuel Ramirez Jr., 33, was captured in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, just 1 hour and 13 minutes after being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, marking the fastest arrest in the program's history and breaking a record that had stood for over 55 years.
Background
Ramirez was wanted for his alleged involvement in the murders of two women on May 21, 2023, at a bar in Federal Way, Washington. Federal Way Police Chief Andy Hwang identified the victims as Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke. A third person was also injured in the incident.
Following the killings, Ramirez was believed to have fled the country. An arrest warrant was issued charging him with the crimes, and in November 2025, he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. A federal arrest warrant was issued at that time.
On December 10, 2025, the FBI announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
The Investigation
On Tuesday, the FBI increased the reward amount to up to $1 million and added Ramirez to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. Within minutes, the FBI's Legal Attaché office in Mexico City, working in coordination with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington and Mexican authorities, located Ramirez in Culiacán, Sinaloa.
Ramirez was captured without incident. He was deported from Mexico to the United States and returned to Washington on Wednesday night.
The previous record for the shortest arrest time in Ten Most Wanted Fugitives history was set in 1969, when a fugitive was arrested two hours after being added to the list.
Ramirez will be booked into jail in King County, Washington. He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment in approximately two weeks.
Key Takeaways
- Samuel Ramirez Jr., 33, was captured just 1 hour and 13 minutes after being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List
- He is charged with the murders of Jessyca Hohn and Katie Duhnke at a bar in Federal Way, Washington, on May 21, 2023
- The FBI increased the reward to $1 million before adding him to the list
- His capture was the fastest in Ten Most Wanted Fugitives history, breaking a 55-year-old record
- Mexican authorities and the FBI's Legal Attaché office in Mexico City coordinated the apprehension
What's Next
Ramirez will face arraignment in approximately two weeks in King County, Washington. He will be held pending trial on charges including unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and the original homicide charges stemming from the May 2023 killings.
Mexico's government confirmed the details of Ramirez's arrest and reaffirmed its commitment to working in coordination with international authorities to detain individuals wanted in other countries.