June 16, 2022
 
A recent investigation has resulted in felony warrants to issue for the apprehension and arrest Leon Mejia-Vicente.  These warrants issued on June 8, 2022 out of the New Bedford District Court and charge Leon Mejia-Vicente with multiple counts of Rape and Sexual abuse of a Child.   When the warrants issued, the suspect had been living at 8 Madeira Avenue in New Bedford with his two children, his five-year-old son, Hector Mejia-Saquic and his seventeen-year-old daughter, Petronila Mejia-Saquic (aka Marta Saquic).
 
Since that time, the suspect and his five-year-old son have not been seen.  On Tuesday of this week, June 14th, the suspect’s 17-year-old daughter attended her 1st period morning class at a school in New Bedford.  She was last seen leaving school after that class when she went to a couple of locations in New Bedford.  
 
Since that time, there has been no contact or any other sightings of the suspect or his two children.  The suspect and his children have strong ties to the Guatemalan community and all three do not speak English. 
 
The Suspect is a violent fugitive who is on the run and his children are considered endangered.  
 
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is working with many agencies to include the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Unit, the New Bedford Police Department, United States Marshals, and other agencies to quickly apprehend the suspect and locate the children to confirm their safety and well-being.