FBI joins manhunt in Elgin murder

Elgin police have had little luck in their search for Amilkar A. Caro, who is wanted for a Feb. 4 murder, so they've enlisted the help of the FBI's Chicago bureau.

Federal officials announced Thursday they are joining with local police in a nationwide search for Caro, who has been charged with pulling the trigger in the slaying of 29-year-old Hugo Armand Navarro in the 700 block of Adams Street on the city's southwest side.

In addition to first-degree murder charges, which carry a minimum sentence of 45 years in prison if convicted, the 32-year-old Caro also faces federal charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Ross Rice, FBI spokesman, said that charge carries up to five years in prison. Caro, he said, is presumed to be armed and dangerous.

"He shot and killed a man in cold blood on the street," Rice said. "We're assisting (Elgin police) by conducting an international manhunt."

The FBI said Caro uses the aliases of Salvador Avila and Javier Pena.

He is a Hispanic man, 5-feet-7 and about 180 pounds. He has a large tattoo of the word "JALISCO" across his back.

If you have information about Caro, whose last known address in Elgin was 1354 Dakota Drive, call the FBI at (312) 421-6700 or Elgin police at (847) 289-2740.

Authorities also have charged Caro's live-in girlfriend, Alexis I. Cruz, 18, with obstructing the investigation and Rogelio Leon-Rodriguez, 18, of the 500 block of Standish Street, Elgin, with two counts of murder.