VENTURA : Molestation Suspect Slain in Mexican Jail

A Ventura man jailed on child sexual assault charges was found stabbed to death in his cell at La Loma prison in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, authorities said.

Federal judicial police say William Lee Heigel’s body was discovered early Saturday.

Raul Villegas, group leader for the State Judicial Police, said a preliminary inquest indicated that Heigel died of multiple stab wounds to the neck, shoulders, back and chest.

Villegas said Heigel was attacked with a machete by a man sharing the cell. The suspect was identified as Cresencio Hernandez Tovar, 35.

Heigel, 43, was a convicted sex offender who was first arrested for molesting boys in 1965. Officials said he had an IQ of 60. He spent much of his life in California mental institutions and later in prisons for sex crimes.

Mario Trejo Constantino, head of Nuevo Laredo Ministerio Publico, said Tovar told investigators that he had been sleeping when Heigel started kicking him and a fight ensued. Officials don’t know how Tovar got the knife, Trejo Constantino said.

Tovar is serving a 22-year sentence for several offenses, including aggravated sexual assault and robbery.

Heigel came to the attention of Mexican authorities several months ago in connection with a series of sexual assaults on young boys in different cities. He was arrested April 30 in Nuevo Laredo as he stepped off a bus from Mexico City.

He was detained by police after they discovered pornographic photos of boys in his luggage. A federal judge in Nuevo Laredo ordered Heigel held for medical observation at La Loma.

Trejo Constantino said Heigel admitted to having molested as many as 50 boys under the age of 12 over three years.