Cleveland - The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a reward for information which would lead to the capture of fugitives Joanna Vega and Romaine Tolbert. Vega and Tolbert are wanted by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department and the United States Marshals Service for murder, gross abuse of a corpse and child endangering, permitting child abuse, tampering with evidence and kidnapping. Vega and Tolbert allegedly killed, Eliazar Ruiz (4yo). Investigators believe that he was killed sometime between March 1, 2015 and September 20, 2017. A tree pruner found Ruiz’s remains September 20, 2017 hidden in a garbage bag, tucked under shrubs on Longmead Avenue just east of West 130th Street. An autopsy was unable to determine cause of death but it was ruled a homicide. Vega and Tolbert were scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 29 and both failed to appear.
Vega, 31, is a Hispanic female, standing approximately 5 feet 5 inches and weighing 160 pounds. Tolbert, 36, is a black male, standing approximately 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 200 pounds. They both shared an address near the 12800 Block of Astor Ave. in Cleveland.
If you have any information in reference to Vega or Tolbert, please contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or Text keyword WANTED and tip to 847411 (tip411). Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available.
Photos courtesy of The U.S. Marshals
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