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Child Murder Suspect Has Violent Past

Marc Anthony Colon, the boyfriend of Gladys Perez, remains in county lock-up in St. Paul, Minnesota. He too faces first degree murder charges for little Crystal's death.

Colon could appear in a Ramsey County courtroom as early as Tuesday. He will have the choice to waive extradition or fight it. If he waives, he'll be brought back to Las Vegas as soon as possible. If he fights, the governor will have to ask the governor of Minnesota for an arrest warrant releasing him to Nevada. That can be a lengthy process.

Marc Anthony Colon sits in the Ramsey County jail awaiting extradition to Las Vegas on murder charges. Though he's accused of beating 3-year-old Crystal Figueroa to death, it's another child abuse case that keeps Colon behind bars. A parole violation out of Fontana, California for assaulting another girl, his 14-year-old sister.

According to police reports from Nov. 2001, Fontana police responded to a domestic dispute. The victim alleged her mother and her 24-year-old brother, Marc Anthony Colon assaulted her during an argument. The responding officer writes, "Colon grabbed subject by the throat and began to squeeze. He continued to squeeze subject's throat as he covered her mouth. Colon released subject's throat then grabbed her again and began to squeeze with both of his hands preventing her from breathing. He let her go then grabbed her throat a third time and again began to squeeze preventing her from breathing."

Colon also struck subject on her left ear. According to the report, the victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors treated her for a ruptured left ear drum and numerous cuts to her throat, neck and mouth. Colon pleaded guilty to child abuse and corporal injury to a child. He served two years in prison.  His parole was due to expire in December of 2007, however, the California Department of Corrections issued a warrant for his arrest in January of this year, six days after Crystal's murder, for failing to comply with the terms of his parole. 

Metro detectives say they did meet briefly with Colon on Friday but wouldn't say what they discussed with him.

Email investigative reporter Colleen McCarty at cmcarty@klastv.com