Accident – death – Obituary News :

Man Extradited from Costa Rica After 30 Years on the Run for Wife’s Murder

A man who had been on the run for over three decades in connection with the killing of his wife in 1991 has been extradited from Costa Rica and is set to face trial, authorities announced on Monday.

The suspect, Jose Lazaro Cruz, was apprehended in Costa Rica in 2022 and was recently brought back to Fairfax County, Virginia to face charges in the 32-year-old murder case, according to local police.

While it remains unclear whether Lazaro Cruz has legal representation, authorities have reached out to the Commonwealth Attorney for Fairfax County and the Fairfax County Public Defender Office for more information.

A Cold Case Finally Solved

The crime dates back to April 30, 1991, when Fairfax County police officers responded to a call regarding a stabbing. Ana Jurado, then 24 years old, was found dead in the street, having suffered upper body trauma, explained Eli Cory, Fairfax County’s deputy chief of investigation.

Lazaro Cruz, Jurado’s estranged husband at the time, was identified as the primary suspect by the police. However, he managed to evade arrest and fled the country. Initially, Lazaro Cruz attempted to seek refuge in Canada but was denied entry due to using forged documents, with border agents noticing a fresh cut on his hand, Cory revealed.

Unable to enter Canada, Lazaro Cruz went on the run and eventually made his way to Houston, Texas, where he is believed to have utilized a smuggler to escape the country. His journey ultimately led him to El Salvador, as Cory explained.

At the time, El Salvador lacked the necessary mechanisms and policies to extradite him to the United States. It was not until 2000, when the country amended its constitution, that the extradition of Salvadoran nationals became possible.

A Tragic Loss and Disrupted Lives

Ana Jurado was a mother of three young children. Her 3-year-old and 7-month-old daughters resided with her in the US, while her 4-year-old son lived in El Salvador at the time of her untimely demise.

Although formal charges are yet to be filed, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis emphasized that this is not a typical cold case, as Lazaro Cruz was identified as the main suspect from the beginning. He had simply managed to evade capture for an extended period of time.

Finally, on July 29, 2022, Lazaro Cruz’s reign as a fugitive came to an end as he was apprehended while attempting to enter Costa Rica, authorities confirmed.

In the years since the 1991 killing, Lazaro Cruz had remarried and started a new life in El Salvador, even fathering several children, according to Cory.

Currently, Lazaro Cruz is being held at the Fairfax County Correctional Center, awaiting trial for the murder of his wife.

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