When ABC's acclaimed newsmagazine 20/20 returns with a special two-hour presentation this Friday, viewers will be taken on a gripping cross-border journey that exposes how a charismatic financial advisor transformed into a wanted fugitive, living a peaceful existence as a yoga instructor while authorities spent years piecing together evidence of a brutal murder that shattered a quiet academic community.
The case centers on the 2010 killing of Sue Marcum, a respected 52-year-old accounting professor at American University, whose lifeless body was discovered at the base of a staircase in her affluent Bethesda, Maryland residence. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident or possible home invasion quickly evolved into something far more sinister as forensic evidence revealed a violent struggle that contradicted any notion of a simple fall or random break-in. The positioning of her body and signs of forced entry suggested a targeted attack rather than a crime of opportunity.
Medical examiners determined that Marcum's death was no accident. The official homicide ruling cited blunt-force trauma and asphyxiation as the causes, indicating a deliberate and violent attack that left little doubt about the killer's intent. Crucially, DNA material recovered from beneath her fingernails told a story of a desperate fight for survival against an assailant who had likely believed the attack would be quick and clean. This biological evidence would become a cornerstone of the investigation, preserving the attacker's genetic fingerprint for years to come, even as the trail seemed to go cold and leads grew scarce with each passing month.
As Montgomery County detectives began their meticulous work, attention soon focused on a man from Marcum's recent past: Jorge Rueda Landeros. The pair had been romantically involved, but their relationship had soured dramatically in the months preceding her death, with Marcum growing increasingly suspicious of Landeros's financial dealings. Landeros had positioned himself as a financial expert and trusted advisor, and Marcum had entrusted him with significant investments intended to secure her future and retirement. However, those funds had mysteriously vanished, leaving Marcum in a precarious financial position and raising serious questions about Landeros's integrity and business practices.
The financial motive deepened substantially when investigators discovered that Landeros stood to benefit from a $500,000 life insurance policy he had taken out in Marcum's name, with himself named as the primary beneficiary. This revelation transformed him from a jilted lover into a prime suspect with a substantial monetary incentive for murder. The policy, which seemed suspiciously timed in retrospect and had been purchased shortly before their relationship deteriorated, provided prosecutors with a powerful argument for premeditation and financial gain as the primary motive.
Before authorities could secure enough evidence for an arrest warrant, Landeros vanished from the United States, leaving behind only questions and a trail of financial devastation. His trail led investigators across the southern border to Juarez, Mexico, a city known for its ability to make people disappear into its vast urban landscape and complex network of safe houses. From there, he traveled deeper into Mexico's interior, eventually settling in Guadalajara, a cosmopolitan city where he would craft an entirely new persona far removed from his life as a financial advisor and suspected killer.
In Guadalajara, Landeros shed his previous identity completely and became a serene yoga teacher and published poet, embracing a lifestyle of mindfulness and artistic expression that stood in stark contrast to the violence of his alleged crime. He integrated himself seamlessly into the local wellness community, befriending artists, spiritual seekers, and expatriates who knew nothing of his violent past in the United States. For years, he lived what appeared to be a tranquil, contemplative life—hiding in plain sight while Maryland authorities continued their painstaking investigation, never giving up on the case despite the passage of time and the distance between them. He even published poetry and built a reputation as a thoughtful, peaceful soul.
The breakthrough came through a combination of persistent detective work, international cooperation, and advances in forensic technology that allowed for more sophisticated DNA analysis. El Paso Detective Ray Sanchez conducted a pivotal interview with Landeros at the border, securing DNA evidence through a seemingly routine interaction that would prove decisive. This sample matched the genetic material found under Marcum's fingernails a decade earlier, providing the forensic link prosecutors needed to connect him definitively to the crime scene and overcome any reasonable doubt.
Last October, Landeros finally faced justice as his trial commenced in the United States, marking the end of a fifteen-year journey for Marcum's family and friends. The jury heard compelling testimony about the financial deception, the suspicious insurance policy, and the irrefutable DNA evidence that connected him to the murder. Prosecutors painted a picture of a man who believed he could outsmart the system and start anew, but who ultimately could not escape the scientific evidence that tied him to the crime. After years of evading accountability and living a double life, his fate was sealed by the verdict, bringing closure to a case that had haunted Marcum's loved ones for fifteen years and demonstrating that justice, though slow, can be inevitable.
ABC News veteran correspondent John Quiñones leads the 20/20 investigation, traveling from the quiet suburbs of Maryland to the bustling streets of Guadalajara to reconstruct this decade-long pursuit of justice. His reporting provides unprecedented access to the key figures who brought closure to this cold case, offering viewers a comprehensive look at both the crime and the complex investigation that spanned two countries and multiple jurisdictions. Quiñones's signature investigative style brings depth and humanity to a story that might otherwise be reduced to mere facts and dates.
The episode features emotional interviews with Marcum's surviving family members, including her brother Alan Marcum and sister-in-law Barbara Marcum, who share cherished memories of the vibrant educator whose life was cut short by greed and violence. They speak of her passion for teaching, her dedication to her students, and the void her absence has left in their lives. Larry March, the friend who discovered Marcum's body, describes the haunting scene that has remained with him for fifteen years and the shock of realizing someone he knew could be capable of such brutality. Lisa Colton, another close friend, explains how she provided investigators with critical email correspondence that helped establish Landeros's motives and movements in the weeks leading up to the murder, offering a digital trail that complemented the physical evidence.
Law enforcement officials offer rare insights into the complexities of tracking an international fugitive across borders and jurisdictions. Montgomery County investigators Sgt. Lawrence Haley and Paula Hamill detail the challenges of pursuing a suspect who had a substantial head start and the resources to establish a new life in a foreign country with a different legal system and language barriers. El Paso Detective Ray Sanchez explains the delicate process of obtaining DNA evidence from a wary subject without tipping him off to the true purpose of their interaction, a high-stakes game of cat and mouse that required patience and precision. Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy discusses the legal strategy required to secure a conviction years after the crime, when memories have faded, witnesses have moved, and evidence has been lost to time.
The program also includes perspectives from journalists who communicated with Landeros during his time as a fugitive, providing unique insight into his mindset and the persona he had so carefully constructed. Washington Post reporter Dan Morse and El País journalist Elias Camhaji share their conversations with the man who presented himself as a philosophical yoga teacher and thoughtful poet, never suspecting they were speaking with a wanted killer. Their reflections reveal how convincingly Landeros had adopted his new identity and how he used charm and apparent wisdom to deflect any suspicion. WJLA-TV reporter Brad Bell provides additional context on the local impact of the case and how it affected the tight-knit community in Bethesda, where violent crime was rare and the murder of a beloved professor sent shockwaves through the academic world.
Perhaps most compelling are the interviews with individuals who knew Landeros in Guadalajara—people who attended his yoga classes, read his poetry, and considered him a trusted friend and mentor. Their accounts reveal a man who successfully compartmentalized his life, maintaining the facade of a peaceful spiritual guide while carrying the dark secret of a violent crime. They describe their shock upon learning his true identity, struggling to reconcile the gentle teacher they knew with the murderer described in news reports. Some express guilt for not having seen through his deception, while others grapple with the realization that they had been unknowingly harboring a fugitive.
Now in its 45th year, 20/20 remains television's premier long-form newsmagazine, anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. Under executive producer Janice Johnston, the program continues to deliver character-driven true crime narratives that captivate audiences while illuminating the painstaking work of investigators and the enduring pain of victims' families. The show's commitment to in-depth reporting has made it a trusted source for complex stories that require time and nuance to tell properly, setting it apart from headline-driven news coverage.
"The Hunt for Mr. Right" airs Friday, January 16, from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC. The episode will be available for streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu, allowing viewers to experience this remarkable story of deception, pursuit, and justice at their convenience. The multi-platform availability reflects the changing ways audiences consume long-form journalism, ensuring that this important story reaches the widest possible audience across different demographics and viewing preferences.
The Marcum case serves as a stark reminder that the consequences of financial fraud can escalate to deadly violence, and that modern forensic science can bridge the gap between a cold case and a conviction—even after a suspect has reinvented himself on another continent. It also demonstrates the dedication of law enforcement professionals who refuse to let cases go unsolved, no matter how much time passes or how far suspects run. For Sue Marcum's family and friends, the resolution brings a measure of peace, though the loss of their beloved teacher, sister, and friend can never be fully healed.