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MOBILE, Ala. (BFMG) — Jorge Javier Quintero, a Florida man accused of murdering his girlfriend, is now in custody following a shootout with U.S. Marshals in Alabama. According to jail records, Quintero, 41, was booked into the Mobile Metro Jail on Thursday, Nov. 7, after being released from the hospital. His booking photo shows him still wearing a hospital gown with visible bandages on his neck and shoulder.
Detectives with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are actively seeking a warrant for first-degree murder against Quintero. The suspect is accused of killing his girlfriend, Carmen Elsa Escalante Carrera, 29, whose body was discovered on Halloween night by Georgia authorities. The investigation is being coordinated with law enforcement agencies across multiple states.
Wellness Check Leads to Multi-State Manhunt
The series of events began on Tuesday, Oct. 29, when deputies in Orange County, Fla., were dispatched to Maribou Circle for a well-check on Quintero. Family members had reportedly contacted authorities after he made suicidal statements. However, neither Quintero nor Escalante Carrera was found at the residence when deputies arrived.
Investigators quickly learned that Quintero had rented a white pickup truck, leading them to Saraland, Ala., a suburb of Mobile, on Thursday, Oct. 31. According to WALA FOX10 News, U.S. Marshals located Quintero in a shopping center parking lot. When they attempted to apprehend him, a shootout ensued, leaving Quintero critically wounded. He was subsequently hospitalized in critical condition and has since recovered enough to be transferred into police custody.
The Discovery of Carmen's Body
While Quintero was hospitalized, authorities intensified their search for Escalante Carrera. Collaborating with Alabama and Georgia law enforcement, investigators located what was initially described as “an object” believed to contain a human body inside in Early County, Georgia, on Oct. 31. Over the weekend, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the remains were identified as those of Escalante Carrera. Early County is located roughly 230 miles east of Mobile, Ala. between the initial Orange County, Fla. wellness check and the eventual Saraland, Ala. shootout.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has yet to release additional details regarding the circumstances, manner, location, etc. of Escalante Carrera’s body. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the events leading up to her alleged murder.
If You or Someone You Know Needs Help
Law enforcement officials noted that Quintero’s actions were reportedly preceded by suicidal statements made to family members. If you or someone you know is struggling, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. Online chat support is also available for those in need as well as Deaf/HoH accessibility.
