A Venezuelan illegal immigrant facing murder charges in the fatal stabbing of a 68-year-old retiree in Martinez, California, had been released by a judge one day prior to the alleged crime, according to reports.
Marcos Iriarte-Valdez was in custody on burglary charges when a judge ordered his release on his own recognizance in Contra Costa County. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) subsequently placed an immigration detainer on Iriarte-Valdez on September 23, 2025.
DHS issued a statement calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom to transfer the suspect to federal authorities, stating, "CA Governor [Gavin Newsom] must not release this murderer from jail and turn him over to us so we can REMOVE him from our nation." The department also criticized "Sanctuary politicians" for prioritizing "politics above public safety."
Iriarte-Valdez is accused of murdering Todd Stewart, a retiree who had lived in the neighborhood for approximately 40 years, during an attempted burglary. Prosecutors allege that Stewart encountered Iriarte-Valdez in his garage, after which the suspect allegedly stabbed and killed him before attempting to flee the scene.
Contra Costa prosecutors had previously charged Iriarte-Valdez in connection with burglaries at occupied residences in April. He was reportedly on pretrial release for those charges when he was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly violating a home-detention condition, leading to his release on Wednesday, the day before Stewart's death.
Iriarte-Valdez, who is reportedly from Venezuela but may hold Spanish citizenship, has been classified as an "illegal alien" by DHS. The department indicated that he was legally admitted to the U.S. during the George W. Bush administration.
A homeowner who was a target of Iriarte-Valdez during his alleged April burglary spree expressed shock at the suspect's release. The homeowner recounted that his wife saw Iriarte-Valdez's reflection and screamed, prompting the suspect to flee.
Iriarte-Valdez is currently being held without bail and is scheduled for a court appearance on Wednesday. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Martinez Police Department, the Contra Costa Superior Court, District Attorney Diana Becton’s office, and Governor Newsom for comment.
A DHS spokesperson stated that "The safest way to arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our streets is by lodging arrest detainers." The spokesperson added that "Because sanctuary cities refuse to work with ICE law enforcement, criminal illegal aliens are released from jails into American communities to perpetuate more crimes."