Boyfriend wanted in June death of South Portland woman corralled in Cancun

Nicole Mokeme, Raymond Lester(Courtesy photos)

PORTLAND, Maine - The U.S. Marshals Service announced on Wednesday they have arrested of a Portland man in the death of his girlfriend last month in Winter Harbor.
Raymond Lester, 35, was taken into custody Monday night in Cancun, Mexico, where he was also charged on a federal warrant issued on June 29 for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
In Maine he is charged with one count of murder in the death of Nicole Mokeme, 35, of South Portland.
Police believe she was killed when Lester struck her with his BMW SUV late June 19 or in the early morning hours of June. 20.
Through a collective effort, investigators in Maine learned Lester had fled the U.S. and was in Cancun, Mexico, according to a statement sent out Wednesday by the Maine Dept. of Safety.
Mexican authorities in collaboration with the USMS Mexico Foreign Field took Lester into custody Monday evening without incident. He arrived in Chicago on Thursday today and will be transferred to Maine at a later date, the press release said.
Mokeme, who was well known for her work in organizing nature retreats for black and indigenous people, was on the campus of the Schoodic Education and Research Center when she was struck.
The USMS Maine Violent Offender Task Force was assisted by the Maine State Police, USMS Foreign Field Office - Mexico City, United States Attorney's Office - District of Maine, USMS - Northern District of Illinois, U.S. Park Service and Mexican authorities.