Arizona Youth Murder Suspect Arrested After 20 Years

UNSPLASH/Nik ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - A man was arrested for murder 20 years after he allegedly killed a 15-year-old girl in Phoenix, Arizona, United States (US).

Officers identified Sergio Reyes, now 37, as a suspect a decade after the murder. At that time the suspect lived in Mexico.

Investigators worked with the US Marshals Service in the following years to find and extradite Reyes. He was put in a Maricopa County prison on Wednesday over the death of Elena Lasswell on July 10, 2004.

It's been 20 years since 15-year-old Elena Lasswell was murdered inside her home. So it's been a big day not only for the Phoenix Police Department, but more importantly for Elena's family, Det. Dominic Roestenberg said in a statement reported by CBS News, Friday, July 12.

"They have been waiting 20 years for justice. So it took a long time, but through perseverance, hard work, and dedication, we were able to bring Sergio Reyes back to Phoenix to face charges," he added.

Lasswell died at his home, despite attempts by first aid officers to save his life. After his death, detectives were unable to find direct information about who killed Lasswell.

Detectives in 2012 used DNA collection techniques to identify profiles matching Reyes and the following year he was named the main suspect in Lasswell's death.

The Supreme Jury of Maricopa County in 2014 charged Reyes while she lived in Mexico.

Prison records show a guarantee set at 1.5 million US dollars. Reyes will appear in court on July 17 on charges of murder, sexual assault, premeditated murder, robbery and kidnapping.