Illegal Immigrant Arrested for Girlfriend's Murder

A Guatemalan immigrant accused of killing his girlfriend has been arrested in Houston, the Homeland Security Department announced Wednesday.

On June 26, Pedro Monterroso, 43, was caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally with his two children.

Immigration authorities released him after they decided he had no criminal history or gang affiliation. He was told to report back to authorities once he got settled in the United States.

But on Monday, Houston authorities arrested Monterroso after his girlfriend, 24-year-old Heidi Monroy, was found bludgeoned to death in the bathtub of her Louisiana apartment.

Monroy had also crossed the border illegally in May.

Approximately 55,000 people traveling as families have been arrested at the border since October.