Garden City ? Garden City authorities are investigating reports that an illegal alien accused of gunning down his estranged wife recently died in Mexico.

The Finney County Sheriff’s Office said it wants to know if Juan Acevedo is actually dead so it can close the case.

Acevedo had been in a vegetative state since shooting himself in the head after he allegedly shot to death his estranged wife, Pearl, outside her home in December 2000.

To avoid being tagged with Acevedo’s medical bills, Finney County authorities did not charge him with the killing. County Atty. John Wheeler said Acevedo likely would never be competent to face trial, so Wheeler wanted to save taxpayers the expense.

In September, Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita transported Acevedo by air ambulance to Mexico City so his sister could care for him. Before that, the hospital was absorbing his costly medical bills because no one would take responsibility for him.

The Garden City Telegram reported Wednesday that Acevedo’s oldest daughter said he died Saturday and was buried Sunday. Finney County authorities said they were working to verify the death, but that their preliminary information matched the daughter’s claim.

Authorities said Acevedo shot his wife three times in the head as she was leaving for work Dec. 21, 2000. He then shot himself as the couple’s five children remained inside the woman’s mobile home.

The couple had a history of domestic abuse and were separated, and Acevedo allegedly shot her because he was upset she would not take him back, investigators said.