Former Yoga Instructor Convicted in Maryland Cold Case After 12 Years on the Run

16th Jan 2026
Former Yoga Instructor Convicted in Maryland Cold Case After 12 Years on the Run A decade-long international manhunt concluded with the second-degree murder conviction of a dual citizen who fled to Mexico after killing a university faculty member.  The brutal 2010 killing of Sue Marcum, a highly regarded accounting professor at American University, has finally reached a legal resolution in a Montgomery County courtroom. Jorge Rueda Landeros, a 54-year-old former yoga and Spanish instructor, was found guilty of second-degree murder following a trial that detailed his decade-long evasion of American justice. The verdict marks the end of a pursuit that spanned continents, involved federal agencies, and required the navigation of complex international treaties to bring a suspect back to Maryland soil. This development serves as a significant milestone for the Bethesda community and the academic circles of Washington, D.C., where Marcum was a beloved figure. The case highlights the critical intersection of digital forensics, international diplomacy, and persistent detective work. For the public, the resolution of this cold case offers insights into how modern law enforcement utilizes global databases and social media footprints to track fugitives who assume new identities in foreign jurisdictions, ensuring that time and distance do not provide permanent sanctuary for violent offenders. Forensic Breakthroughs and the Bethesda Crime Scene The investigation into Sue Marcum’s death began on the morning of October 25, 2010, when a friend discovered her body at the bottom of her basement stairs. Sue Marcum - the victim of a 2010 homicide in Bethesda was a longtime accounting professor at American University, remembered by colleagues and students for her generosity and mentorship. The scene in her Bethesda home initially presented as a residential burglary. Responding officers from the Montgomery County Police Department noted several hallmarks of a break-in: a screen had been cut on a back window, rooms had been ransacked, and Marcum’s 2005 Jeep Cherokee was missing from the property. However, the sheer violence of the attack—which involved blunt force trauma and evidence of a struggle, suggested a more personal confrontation than a typical theft. Detectives recovered a broken bottle near Marcum's body, which would later become a cornerstone of the forensic evidence. While the Jeep was recovered a short distance away soon after the crime, the trail for a suspect initially went cold. It was the biological evidence collected from the scene that eventually broke the case open. Forensic technicians isolated DNA samples from the basement that did not belong to the victim. When these samples were cross-referenced against known associates, a match was identified linking the evidence to Jorge Rueda Landeros. At the time of the murder, Landeros was a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico. He had established a relationship with Marcum in 2005 through the local yoga and language-learning community. As the forensic net began to close in 2011, investigators requested a voluntary DNA sample from Landeros while he was in Juarez, Mexico. Shortly after providing the sample—and before the lab could confirm the match to the crime scene, Landeros vanished. His disappearance triggered the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice, categorizing him as an international fugitive and alerting border authorities worldwide to his wanted status. Financial Desperation as a Primary Motive As the manhunt continued, investigators delved into the financial ties between the professor and the instructor. They uncovered a deeply lopsided economic relationship that prosecutors would later argue provided the motive for the killing. Marcum, who taught accounting and was known for her financial literacy, had paradoxically entrusted Landeros with significant portions of her personal wealth for investment purposes. According to court testimony from Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, Landeros had lost approximately $300,000 of Marcum's money through unsuccessful ventures. The financial strain on Marcum in the months leading up to her death was severe. Evidence presented during the trial showed she had remortgaged her properties, borrowed funds from her father, and made early withdrawals from her retirement accounts to cover her living expenses. "She was increasingly desperate for money... she couldn't pay her bills," McCarthy noted during the proceedings. Furthermore, investigators discovered a reciprocal life insurance arrangement between the two. Marcum had named Landeros as the beneficiary of her policy, and he had done the same for her. Prosecutors argued that with Marcum's funds depleted and her discovery of his mismanagement imminent, Landeros saw the life insurance payout as a solution to his mounting financial liabilities. Treaty Restrictions and the “Rule of Specialty” The eventual capture of Landeros in December 2022 brought the case into the realm of complex international law. Because Landeros was apprehended in Guadalajara, Mexico, his return to the United States was governed by the Extradition Treaty between the United States of America and the United Mexican States (1978). This treaty contains specific protections for the extradited individual, most notably the "Rule of Specialty" outlined in Article 17. Article 17 stipulates that a person delivered under the treaty "shall not be detained, tried or punished in the territory of the requesting Party for an offense other than that for which extradition has been granted." This legal mandate had a direct impact on the scope of the trial in Montgomery County. Although investigators had documented extensive evidence of financial mismanagement and potential fraud, the formal extradition request submitted by the U.S. Department of State focused primarily on the homicide charges. Consequently, Landeros could only be tried for first-degree and second-degree murder. The prosecution was legally barred from adding counts of embezzlement or investment fraud to the indictment. This procedural limitation highlights a common challenge in international criminal law: the necessity of balancing local prosecutorial goals with the rigid requirements of bilateral treaties. Despite these constraints, the financial evidence was still permitted as testimony to establish a motive for the murder, even if it could not be the basis for independent criminal charges. Life on the Run, Arrest in Mexico, and Sue Marcum’s Enduring Legacy For more than a decade after the killing, Jorge Rueda Landeros lived openly in Guadalajara, Mexico, under the alias “Leon Ferrara.” He built a quiet life as a teacher, blending into the local community and presenting himself as a thoughtful, mild-mannered intellectual. To neighbors and students, there was nothing remarkable about him—an ordinary presence that sharply contrasted with the violent crime Maryland prosecutors would later describe in court. That façade unraveled through years of patient investigative work. Detectives with the Montgomery County Police Department’s cold case unit, working alongside federal authorities, tracked digital traces tied to Landeros’ past. Social media activity and communications linked to known associates gradually narrowed his whereabouts to Mexico’s Jalisco region. By late 2022, coordination between U.S. officials, the FBI, and Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República confirmed that “Leon Ferrara” was, in fact, the long-wanted fugitive. On December 13, 2022, Mexican federal agents arrested Landeros as he walked his dogs, bringing a 12-year manhunt to an end and clearing the way for his extradition to Maryland. The arrest and conviction have had a profound impact far beyond the courtroom. At American University, colleagues and former students have revisited the loss of Sue Marcum, remembered not only as a respected accounting professor but as a generous mentor and active community member. Testimony during the trial underscored her warmth, her commitment to her students, and her life outside academia as a volunteer and neighbor deeply rooted in Bethesda. While the verdict offers long-delayed closure, it has also reinforced Marcum’s legacy. The Kogod School of Business continues to honor her through the Sue Marcum Memorial Scholarship, supporting students who reflect her dedication to both the profession and public service. For the Washington, D.C. region, the case stands as a reminder that even the longest-running investigations can reach resolution—and that justice, though delayed, can still be delivered. Key Questions Answered What is the difference between first-degree and second-degree murder in Maryland? In Maryland, first-degree murder requires proof that a killing was willful, deliberate, and premeditated. Second-degree murder involves an intentional killing that was not planned in advance. In this case, the jury convicted Landeros of second-degree murder, indicating they found intent but not sufficient evidence of premeditation. How did dual citizenship affect the international manhunt? Landeros’ dual U.S.–Mexican citizenship allowed him to legally reside in Mexico after the killing, complicating efforts to bring him back to Maryland. It also meant that his return to the United States was governed by the 1978 U.S.–Mexico Extradition Treaty, which imposed strict limits on the charges he could face once extradited. What is the “Rule of Specialty” in extradition cases? The Rule of Specialty is a principle of international law requiring that an extradited person be prosecuted only for the specific offenses approved by the surrendering country. In this case, Mexico approved extradition on homicide charges only, preventing Maryland prosecutors from pursuing separate financial or fraud counts. Can the Rule of Specialty be waived? Yes. Under the extradition treaty, the surrendering country may waive the Rule of Specialty and allow additional charges. That waiver was not granted in this case, limiting the prosecution to murder charges alone. What happens to the money allegedly lost by the victim? Because Landeros was not charged with financial crimes, there is no criminal restitution order tied to the alleged $300,000 loss. Any attempt to recover the funds would require separate civil litigation, which becomes more difficult given the time elapsed and his incarceration. Sentencing, Appeals, and Next Steps in the Maryland Cold Case With the guilty verdict now entered, the case moves into the sentencing phase. A hearing is scheduled for February 6, when Judge Michael McAuliffe will determine the appropriate punishment. Under Maryland law, a conviction for second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Prosecutors are expected to argue that Landeros’ 12 years as a fugitive should weigh heavily as an aggravating factor, while the defense is likely to present mitigating evidence in support of a lesser sentence. Following sentencing, Landeros will be transferred to the custody of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. He will retain the right to appeal the conviction to the Appellate Court of Maryland. Defense attorneys have previously indicated they intend to challenge aspects of the circumstantial case and the handling of DNA evidence, though the jury’s verdict suggests those arguments failed to raise reasonable doubt at trial.