- Jesus Maltos-Chacon, a Mexican national, charged in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with homicide and vehicular manslaughter for the death of 20-year-old Blake Zieto. Maltos-Chacon also had previous convictions for DUI and assault. Maltos-Chacon, who entered the country without inspection at an unknown place and unknown time, was ordered removed in October 2006. He is an ICE immigration fugitive in addition to being a criminal fugitive.
| Blake Michael Zieto |
| Obituary ZIETO, BLAKE MICHAEL “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31. An employee with Scaffolding Rental Services, he died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at 9:23 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center due to a motorcycle accident. He was 20, a resident of Denham Springs and a native of Baton Rouge. Visiting at Resthaven Funeral Home Chapel, 11817 Jefferson Highway, on Tuesday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. until service at 1 p.m. Interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Survived by his parents, Tony and Judy Zieto; paternal grandmother, Luraine Zieto; maternal grandparents, A.J. Jr. and Ethel Allement; two sisters, Heather Campbell and husband Jason, and Toni Lynn Zieto; fiancée, Haylee Braud; two nieces and a nephew, Victoria and Jadon Campbell and Presley Calvin. Preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Tony Zieto Sr. Pallbearers will be Jason Campbell, Don DeBenedetto, Patrick Jones, Dustin Allement, Mitch Mayeux and Corey Weber. Honorary pallbearers are Keith Allement and Chad Bergeron. He was a member of Healing Place Church. |
DENHAM SPRINGS, LA (WAFB) – The man wanted for questioning after allegedly running away from the scene of an accident in which a 20-year-old motorcyclist died has been found, but his family worries bureaucratic red tape may prevent them from seeking justice for their lost loved one.
Louisiana State Police said they located Jesus Chacon, 45, in his native Mexico. Chacon is believed to be the man who was driving the truck that slammed head-on into Blake Zieto on Nov. 18, 2006.
Zieto was riding his motorcycle down LA 16 in Denham Springs when the crash happened. The driver of the truck left the scene and Zieto to die. Four years later, the victim’s family is learning more about that driver.
The Louisiana State Police had been looking for Chacon since that night, with federal agencies getting involved in the search. However, since Chacon was discovered to be living south of the border once again, Zieto’s relatives worry he will get off scot-free.
“When he was killed, he died,” said Judy Zieto, Blake’s mother. “Our life ended.”
Zieto described the last four years as a nightmare. She and her family are surrounded by love and a mountain of memories. However, there is one image in her mind that has stuck and while it has been four years, she just cannot erase it.
“Blake was under the motorcycle. The truck was on top of him. The truck caught fire. Blake was trapped,” she explained.
Witnesses said Chacon ran off when his truck caught fire. Zieto died on the way to the hospital. His injuries were so traumatic his relatives were not allowed to look into his eyes one last time.
“So, I had to tell him goodbye to a covered face and chest and I got to say goodbye to his hand,” his mother recalled.
Since then, she has made it her mission in life to stay on Chacon’s trail. This year authorities informed the Zietos the suspect and his family were back in their native Mexico.
“They’re with their children. They’re celebrating the holidays. My baby turned 20 and we celebrated his birthday at the cemetery. I haven’t put up a Christmas tree since he died. He loved decorating and I can’t do it. It’s too hard,” Zieto added.
She may have given up on holiday parties and other events too painful to bear, but she is far from breaking a vow she made to her son as she took his hand one last time.
“I promised him I would do whatever I could to find Jesus and have justice brought and I’m not giving up until I do,” she said.
At this point, authorities say their hands are tied. They must now issue a provisional arrest warrant through the Mexican government, which will then decide whether to send Chacon back to the U.S. to be prosecuted.
