Tom Carver reports: "The FBI said Ramirez was responsible for at least five murders"

Angel Maturino Resendez, 39, is likely to face the death penalty if convicted.

It is the first time Mr Maturino Resendez - alias Rafael Resendez-Ramirez - has been charged with murder in Texas, which imposes the death penalty more often than any other US state.

He has already been charged with two murders in Illinois and one in Kentucky, and has been named as a suspect in five other murders in Texas.

Police say he is firmly linked to all nine killings by DNA, fingerprints and property stolen from his victims.

News of the ninth alleged killing came on Wednesday. Texas officials said they had identified his fingerprints at the scene of the murder of an elderly woman, Leffie Mason, in East Texas.

Her body was covered by a blanket, as were several other victims believed to have been killed by Mr Maturino Resendez.

Prosecutors said they would seek capital punishment.

The charge came after Mr Maturino Resendez appeared to indicate he was willing to co-operate with the authorities.

Speaking through an interpreter, he told a judge at a bail hearing: "Can all this be done very quickly so I can say I am guilty?"

At the time he had only been charged with burglary at the scene of one of the killings. He will be held without bail.

He told the judge at the court in Houston, Texas, that he had borrowed his alias - Rafael Resendez-Ramirez - from an uncle.

A long manhunt

Mr Maturino Resendez surrendered on Tuesday after an intensive manhunt.

He made a brief court appearance in El Paso before being flown to Houston for questioning by FBI agents.

Texan authorities said his sister called them on Sunday, and persuaded her brother to walk across the Mexican border and surrender.

Mr Maturino Resendez was one of the FBI's 10 most-wanted fugitives.

All nine of his alleged killings took place near railway tracks, and most of the victims were bludgeoned to death.

Some of the murders occurred after he had been released by US border officials, unaware there was an arrest warrant out for him.

Death penalty

The BBC's Tom Carver: "The FBI said it was very relieved to have him behind bars."

Police said the migrant worker had used about 20 different aliases, five dates of birth and three birthplaces.

He has an extensive criminal record including convictions for weapons offences, burglary, rape, assault and vehicle theft.