The suspected killer of a Lancashire junior football coach wrote a letter saying ‘sorry’ before fleeing New York.
Orlando Orea, 32, left a note apologising for the murder of Michael Jones, 25, from Tarleton, near Preston, before catching a flight to Mexico.
New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Raymond Kelly said: “It’s a note that basically makes a statement that he’s sorry.
“We’re in contact with the State Department, the US legal attache in Mexico and with Interpol.
“We will most likely be sending personnel there. We’re doing everything we can to set the process in motion to get this individual back here.”
The letter was discovered while police were executing a warrant to look for further evidence at the Queens home Orea shared with his brother.
Also known as Orlando Gutierrez or Orlando Estevas, Orea is thought to have stabbed Mr Jones to death in the early hours of Sunday.
Orea is believed to have bought a one-way ticket on an Aero Mexico flight with cash, moments before it was scheduled to leave from Kennedy International Airport, on Tuesday morning.
Detectives highlighted Orea’s name at around 4.45pm (local time) on Tuesday and placed him on a no-fly list, but he was already gone.
Mexico has an extradition treaty with the US in cases where there is no possibility of a death penalty, which was ruled unconstitutional in New York State in 2004.
Orea has previous arrests for assault and for violating a protection order taken out by the mother of his child.
Mr Jones was found close to Union Square, near 25 West 14th Street, with stab wounds to his neck and torso. His ear had also been severed.
A memorial organised by the New York Red Bulls, who hired Mr Jones five years ago, was held on Wednesday.
Around 500 mourners attended the service at a Westchester County church.
Team-mates from Tarleton Corinthians, Mr Jones’s former club, will be holding a minute’s silence for him before their match tomorrow.
Similar tributes will take place before all matches played at the weekend in The Westchester Youth Soccer League.
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