An American woman living in Punta Gorda, Toledo District, has been flown out of the country in connection with the murder of her former lover, a woman named Lanell Barsock, who was killed in Palmdale, California, in 2010.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the fugitive, Larene Eleanor Austin, 29, was located after authorities received a tip following an episode of America’s Most Wanted, which reported on the slaying in December.
Following the tip, Belize police and FBI agents arrested Austin in Punta Gorda.
On Thursday, January 26, Austin was flown to Houston, and handed over to homicide investigators from the Sheriff’s Department, the Times reported.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, Barsock’s body was found in a garage by a friend in June 2010.
According to media reports, Austin and Barsock were long-time friends, who eventually ventured on a romantic affair, while both had live-in boyfriends.
But apparently, the romance between the two culminated in 2010 when Barsock allegedly told Austin that she wanted to end the relationship and dedicate herself to her boyfriend.
Reportedly, Austin took the news hard, and only four days after the relationship ended, she met with Barsock at Barsock’s home in Palmdale, California.
It was there, police said, while Barsock was seated, watching television, that Austin allegedly pulled out a 9mm gun and shot her in the back of the head. Barsock died immediately.
“Once we vetted the tips and confirmed she was out of the country, we got in touch with the FBI.
‘Over the following two months or so, the FBI partnered with Belizean authorities to bring Austin down,” said L.A. Sheriff’s detective, Bob Kenny.
America’s Most Wanted is a TV show on the Lifetime network.
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