Suspect fled to Mexico to avoid court
Eduardo Zepedea, 32, of 201 Millsaps Circle, Epworth, remains held in the Fannin County Jail, facing local charges, charges out of Cherokee County, North Carolina, and an ICE hold.
Zepedea was arrested Saturday morning, June 26, by Fannin County Deputy Sheriff Kaylee Robertson on charges of Kidnapping and Child Molestation.
Warrants accusing Zepedea of those crimes were taken out by Investigator R.T. Henry of the Blue Ridge Police Department.
Zepedea is accused of assaulting a female victim under the age of 16 at a business in Blue Ridge. The suspect is known to his victim, Henry said,
Warrants indicate the attack took place in May.
The suspect was denied bond following his arrest.
When Investigator Jessica Parks of District Attorney Frank Wood’s office checked Zepedea’s criminal record, she discovered an open case in Cherokee County.
According to court documents, Zepedea was arrested December 19, 2012, and charged with Indecent Liberties with a Child.
He was 19 at the time. His arrest report listed him with a Murphy address, but as a non-resident, having been born in Mexico.
Zepedea was released on a $10,000, unsecured bond while awaiting a January 3, 2013, court date. While out on bond, authorities could not locate Zepedea and believed he fled back to Mexico.
After confirming the open case, Parks confirmed with Cherokee County authorities they still wanted Zepedea back to stand trial. He is under a hold in the Fannin County Jail, to be returned to Cherokee County any time he is released.
Henry said Cherokee County authorities did not know Zepedea was here until the case came up.
It was Parks’ effort that alerted them.
Zepedea is also under an ICE hold according to his booking report.