Accused stabber no stranger to police

ALBION, N.Y. (WIVB) - Luis Flamenco, a 24-year-old illegal immigrant accused of murder outside a Wal-Mart in Orleans County, is no stranger to police.

Flamenco was arrested in August in Medina on assault charges, accused of slapping a girl. According to Police Chief Jose Avila, who declined an on-camera interview, Flamenco gave authorities false identification.

Orleans County DA Joseph Cardone said, "At that time, he provided documentation to the Medina Police Department that he was actually from Puerto Rico under a completely different name."

Cardone says bail was originally set at $25,000 in the Medina case, but it was eventually lowered and Flamenco was able to post it.

"He was scheduled to appear back in local court, failed to appear and then a warrant was issued. And of course, the warrant was issued the under the name that he had previously given to law enforcement," said Cardone.

Flamenco, who authorities say had worked on a farm in the area, is accused of stabbing to death 45-year-old Kathleen Byham Sunday night in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Albion. In the country illegally, authorities say, he managed to slip through the cracks simply because his true identity wasn't known until now.

Orleans County Sheriff's officials say that Flamenco also has an outstanding warrant from the state of Georgia, involving a probation violation.