SAN ANTONIO -- He was a convicted killer in Mexico at the age of 14, known to work for the drug cartel and responsible for the gruesome murder of four people. Edgar Jimenez Lugo, now 17, is in San Antonio reuniting with family, according to Mexican authorities.
The teen is a U.S. citizen, born in San Diego, California but raised in Mexico by his grandmother.
At the age of 11, Lugo said he was kidnapped by the Mexican cartels. In 2010, he was arrested in Morelos, south of Mexico City, after being accused of beheading four young people. He served three years in a Mexican prison.
On Tuesday, Lugo was released from Mexican custody before reportedly boarding a commercial plane, leaving Mexico for the Alamo city.
With such a violent criminal history, one may wonder why the U.S. permitted this teen to live in San Antonio, and how well he will be able to blend into society.
Lugo, also known as 'El Ponchis,' is said to be staying in Texas with family.
Unless he's committed any crimes here, or charged with crimes here, there is no problem with him entering, immigration attorney David Trevino said.
Trevino said, since the crime happened in another country and time was served, nothing can keep the American-born citizen from returning 'home.'
He will have a lot of psychological issues, Dr. Harry Croft, a PTSD specialist, told KENS 5.
Dr. Croft said, even under the best circumstances, recovery is never easy. Those dealing with a traumatic situation may question their existence.
There's this sense of, 'Who am I?' 'How could I have done this,' Croft explained.
Getting Lugo the proper help, as soon as possible, is key, Croft said.
Reports indicate Lugo came here, not only to meet with family, but to head to an unknown residential support-facility in San Antonio.
Life will go on for this young man. But life will not be as good, unless he deals with whatever it is he has to deal with, Dr. Croft said.
Lugo was also reportedly coming to the states for his own safety. The Mexican newspaper 'El Pais' reported twelve other teen hitmen, who have left the juvenile system, have been murdered in the past two years.
