Houston-area father, former Marine detained with children in Mexico
HOUSTON -
A decorated former Marine and his children were detained in Mexico Friday morning after rifles and ammunition were found in their car.
Family members said Jeromie Slaughter, 38, got lost on his way to a deer lease and accidentally drove into Ciudad Acuna, Mexico.
"I was beside myself," Slaughter's mother, Beverly McKinney, said. "You know I waited for those kind of calls when he was in the military, not to go hunting."
McKinney said her son, who was awarded the Bronze Star during one his several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, retired from the Marines last year. McKinney said her son planned the hunting trip with his 14-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter as a way to make up for lost time.
"He's been away for so long, he's trying to catch up on that dad stuff." said McKinney. "That's what this trip was for Thanksgiving weekend."
McKinney said the trio was heading to a deer lease in Rocksprings, which is west of Kerrville. McKinney said her son had never been to the lease, made a wrong turn and wound up on the road that leads to Ciudad Acuna.
"He knew they were lost and when he seen the sign that said 'no guns,' you know, no weapons, he knew that he had gone too far," said McKinney.
McKinney said by the time her son realized his mistake, he had no choice but to cross into Mexico. McKinney said during a brief phone call with her son after he was detained, he told her he asked Mexican authorities to be allowed to simply turn around and go back to the U.S. However, Slaughter and his children were detained when Mexican authorities found three rifles and several dozen rounds of ammunition in the car.
McKinney said attorneys in Mexico told her Slaughter could possibly avoid being sent to prison if he pays a $25,000 fine, but that is not a guarantee.
"If he stays there and he's there in the morning, they're taking him to prison," McKinney said she was told.
Late Friday night, Mexican authorities allowed the children's maternal grandfather to cross the border and escort his grandchildren back to the U.S.
