Man Arrested in Costa Rica Extradited to U.S. for 1991 Murder

After evading capture for over three decades, a man wanted for the 1991 murder of his estranged wife in northern Virginia has been apprehended and brought back to the United States from Costa Rica. The Fairfax County Police Department announced on Monday that Jose Lazaro Cruz, the prime suspect in the killing of Ana Jurado, was arrested in 2022 in Costa Rica and has now been extradited to face murder charges.

The murder took place in West Falls Church, Virginia, a community located just east of Arlington. Lazaro Cruz, who is accused of stabbing his wife to death, managed to elude law enforcement for almost 33 years. “He avoided accountability for something he did nearly 33 years ago,” stated Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis during a news conference. “We’ve never forgotten the family. We’ve never forgotten the seriousness of this crime.”

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

Identifying the Suspect in the Stabbing of Ana Jurado

On April 30, 1991, law enforcement responded to a reported stabbing incident and discovered Ana Jurado “lying on the curb of the street” with severe upper body injuries, according to Eli Cory, Fairfax County’s deputy chief of investigation. Tragically, emergency personnel pronounced Jurado dead at the scene.

At the time of her death, Jurado was the mother of three children. Her 3-year-old and 7-month-old daughters were living with her in the United States, while her 4-year-old son resided in El Salvador. Witnesses reported hearing a scream and seeing a man matching the description of Lazaro Cruz leaving the crime scene. Detectives obtained a felony murder warrant for Cruz on May 10, 1991.

Cruz attempted to flee the country and cross the border into Canada but was denied entry due to his fraudulent identification. “When the border agents pushed him away and sent him back into the United States, they noticed that there was what appeared to be a fresh cut on Mr. Cruz’s hand,” revealed Cory. “From there, we believe Mr. Cruz fled on a bus to Houston, Texas.”

Creating a New Life in El Salvador

With the assistance of a smuggler, Lazaro Cruz managed to cross the border illegally, establishing a new life in El Salvador. At that time, El Salvador lacked extradition policies for suspects sought by the United States. Detectives relentlessly pursued the case for years, even traveling to El Salvador to locate Lazaro Cruz.

“During this trip, they gathered crucial information regarding Lazaro Cruz’s whereabouts, and their meticulous efforts continued to lay the foundation for a thorough investigation,” stated the Fairfax County Police in a news release. According to investigators, Lazaro Cruz remarried, had several children, and worked as a truck driver in El Salvador.

In 2022, Lazaro Cruz’s attempt to enter Costa Rica led to his detention by authorities. Following an extensive extradition process, authorities confirmed his return to face charges in Fairfax County. Lazaro Cruz surrendered to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on January 18.

“We believe that he was crossing the border to visit some family members when he got caught… 30 years later, I can imagine that he probably got a little comfortable,” Cory speculated.

The arrest and extradition of Jose Lazaro Cruz serve as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of law enforcement in seeking justice for the family of Ana Jurado, bringing closure to a case that remained unresolved for over three decades.

Sources:

– Fairfax County Police Department

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