The U.S. Attorney?s Office is joining the investigation into the homicide of an illegal Guatemalan immigrant in Bedford.

The federal intervention comes as pressure has mounted from immigrant advocacy groups to have the Bedford Police Department removed from the investigation. The department police had contact with the immigrant, Rene Perez, the night he died.

Additionally, three Mount Kisco police officers were reportedly the last to see Perez the night he died. They have been placed on desk duty while the investigation into Perez?s death continues.

Perez was found on Byram Lake Road on April 29. The medical examiner says he died of abdominal injuries. But Bedford police, together with the U.S. Attorney?s Office, state police and the Westchester District Attorney?s Office, will continue to participate in the probe into Rene Perez?s death.

?It has become apparent to me that circumstances of this case may implicate both state and federal interests,? said Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Perez will be buried in Guatemala over the weekend where he had a wife and teenage daughter. DiFiore said she reached out to Perez?s brother to reassure him about the investigation. Related Information Activists demand feds take over Bedford murder probe Mt. Kisco cops become focus of Bedford murder probe New twist emerges in Bedford immigrant death case Investigators comb Mt. Kisco cop cars in death case Immigrant's death brings up Mt. Kisco cold cases