Authorities say they got a tip that Miguel Mejia-Ramos, 28, would be driving through Schulenberg, which is between Houston and San Antonio, when they decided to track his phone. They shut down the freeway and pulled him over; he was arrested without incident, police say.
He's wanted in connection with the stabbing deaths of his wife and two young daughters. The three were found stabbed to death in their New York City home Sunday night. Mejia-Ramos was being held at the Fayette County Sheriff's Office in Texas.
"We're awaiting word from authorities in New York; from our understanding, they're on their way here to the sheriff's office in Lagrange. And I'm sure they're going to interview the suspect and put all the pieces of their puzzle back together. The big thing is extradition to New York," said Lt David Beyer, Fayette County Sheriff's Office.
Officials say they're not sure when Mejia-Ramos will be taken back to New York City. He could fight the extradition, then a hearing would be held in Fayette County. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer.
The bodies of 1-year-old Yaslin Mejia and 2-year-old Daniela Mejia and their mother, 21-year-old Deisy Garcia, were found Sunday night in their Queens apartment by other household members. They had been stabbed multiple times in their chests.
Members of Garcia's nearby church said she and her daughters were from Guatemala. They described her as a devoted mother who often danced at the church. They said they were surprised when she didn't show up for service on Sunday.
Paramedics were called to the apartment, located over a pharmacy in the Jamaica section, at about 7 p.m. Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
