Tempe, Ariz. — In a significant breakthrough in a 2008 cold case, the Tempe Police Department, in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested 32-year-old Jose Juan Vergara Ortiz in connection with the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old David Lopez. Ortiz was apprehended today, nearly 16 years after the violent crime occurred.
The incident that led to Lopez’s tragic death unfolded on December 27, 2008, when Lopez, severely wounded from a stabbing, managed to make his way to a neighbor’s door at an apartment complex located at 801 E. McKellips Drive. He asked the neighbor to call 911, telling them he had been attacked. Despite immediate medical attention, Lopez succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
“We are grateful for the relentless dedication of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Mexico Investigative Liaison Team,” said Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy. “This arrest brings us one step closer to justice, and we hope it provides some closure to the family who has endured years of heartache.”
After initial investigations in 2008, detectives were unable to identify a suspect, and the case went cold. However, in 2014, a breakthrough came when a cold case detective re-examined the evidence. Using advanced DNA analysis, investigators were able to link Ortiz to the crime scene. Despite the evidence, Ortiz had fled the country, making the arrest a challenging pursuit.
The U.S. Marshals Service, working closely with local authorities, tracked Ortiz to Mexico, where he had been hiding for years. The arrest was made possible through the persistent efforts of both agencies and their commitment to bringing justice for victims, regardless of how long it takes.
“The U.S. Marshals and Tempe Police worked tirelessly to locate and extradite this fugitive from Mexico,” said Van Bayless, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. “We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to track down individuals who commit violent crimes and bring them to justice, no matter where they try to hide.”
Ortiz now faces charges of first-degree murder (a class 1 felony) and armed robbery (a class 2 felony) in connection with Lopez’s death. His extradition from Mexico marks a significant moment in the ongoing pursuit of justice for victims of violent crime.
Tempe police have expressed hope that this arrest will provide some peace for Lopez’s family, who have waited years for answers.