ALBANY – Almost three years after failing to appear in court, then going on the run and becoming one of the 15 Most Wanted Fugitives in the country, Anthony Ojeda went before a judge.

Ojeda, 42, wearing jail clothes and shackles, appeared before Judge Roger McDonough about three years after he was supposed to.

Ojeda is facing charges including murder and manslaughter for the death of six-week-old Baby Eli in 2019. However, Ojeda and his husband Neil Garzon skipped town in 2021.

“And three years to be on the lam, to be living some life internationally and depriving the people of Albany County of the justice for this young child that died all too soon, it’s very, very frustrating,” said Albany County District Attorney David Soares.

Cohoes Police and the U.S. Marshals never gave up.

“I knew someday he’d be captured,” Cohoes Detective Robert Piazza said.

They found the couple in Mexico.

Ojeda arrived in this region Friday night.

Exclusive video shows him in Albany minutes after he landed at the airport in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. Now he’s back in court.

“I think it’s a great step in the furtherance of the prosecution of this case,” Cohoes Police Chief Todd Waldin said.

Former Cohoes Detective Sergeant Michael Greene retired before Ojeda was brought back, but he came to see him in court, as always, carrying the precious prayer card for the infant who died. He said he came for Baby Eli, to see it through.

“It was humbling to know that he’s been caught. His run is over. It’s time to be held accountable,” he said.

Ojeda was taken to the Albany County Jail. There’s an order of protection for a witness in this case.