25 Years Ago, 17 Year Old Murderer Arrested

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The answer to Gladys Arellano's killer riddle gets enlightenment. On October 22, a man from Texas was arrested for the rape and murder of a 17-year-old boy who was found dead 25 years ago.

In January 1996, Arellano was found lifeless naked in a ravine in Malibu, California. He reportedly disappeared a day before being found.

When the Police wanted to verify through the DNA attached to the victim's body, there was no suitable data and the police froze the case.

However, in November 2019, Garcia was arrested by Los Angeles police for assault. As a result, the DNA was stored in the police database.

Finding a match, the police began to reopen the investigation of the case and search for his presence in San Bernardino County in February. The police officially arrested Garcia on September 29.

During his life, Garcia had moved several times from California to Dallas. It is not yet known what relationship Garcia, then 19, had with Arellano apart from the two being neighbors at the time.

“We are satisfied to know that Jose Luis Garcia was arrested on the street after 24.5 years. We don't want anything but him (Garcia) to pay for his crimes. "

"We realized this would not bring Gladys back, but we were relieved to know there was justice for Gladys who was supposed to celebrate her 42nd birthday on Saturday, October 24," Arellano's nephew quoted the Daily Mail on October 23.

Jose Luis Garcia, now 42, was extradited to California and charged in Van Nuys High Court, Los Angeles. Garcia remains in custody on $ 1 million bail.