Congress asked to extradite C. Hoerig

Brazil has offered to try the woman in that country, where the suspect fled after the shooting.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, and John Boccieri of Alliance, D-16th, have introduced a resolution in Congress calling for the extradition of murder suspect Claudia C. Hoerig.

Claudia Hoerig has been charged with killing her husband, Karl Hoerig, in their Newton Falls home March 12, 2007.

Authorities say she fled to her native Brazil after the shooting. She became a naturalized American citizen in 1999.

The resolution is an attempt to build more awareness among congressional members and within the new administration and to require the U.S. State Department to take up the matter with Brazil, a press release from the congressmen says.

“I’m not going to sit back and allow Claudia Hoerig to escape justice,” Ryan said. “It is imperative that the Brazilian government honor reciprocity with the extradition treaty as we aim to seek justice and closure for the Hoerig family.”

So far, Brazil refuses to extradite Claudia Hoerig and has proposed one alternative — trying her in Brazil.

“Karl fought for all of us, and now we must fight for him,” Boccieri said. “Brazil’s unwillingness to live up to the spirit of our mutual, but uneven extradition treaty is unacceptable. Karl is my friend, and I will not stand by and let this case escape justice.”

Boccieri and Karl Hoerig served in the Air Force together between 2000 and 2007. They flew C-130 aircraft for the 910 Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Reserve Air Station in Vienna.

Earlier this year, Ryan and Boccieri sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking for her immediate assistance in obtaining an extradition hearing for Claudia Hoerig.

County Prosecturo Dennis Watkins said he thanks the congressmen for their ongoing efforts to bring Claudia Hoerig back to the United States for trial.

“I know the [Hoerig] family is very happy with the efforts the congressmen have made,” Watkins said.