AfriPulse
On Wednesday, federal officials apprehended a man accused of the brutal rape and murder of a young girl in Pennsylvania back in 2000.
In August of that year, the body of I’riana DeJesus was discovered wrapped in wallpaper in Philadelphia, only days after she had been raped and strangled. According to WPVI, Alexis Flores, who was identified as a suspect in 2007, was captured in Honduras this week. He is now set to be extradited to the United States to stand trial.
As reported by The Inquirer, DeJesus disappeared on July 29, 2000, while she was playing in her family’s front yard. A family friend later recounted seeing DeJesus walking with a man she did not recognize around the time the girl went missing.
Initially, police believed the suspect was a transient man known as “Carlos,” who had been staying in the building where DeJesus’ body was eventually found. This individual disappeared after her body was discovered.
It wasn’t until 2007 that authorities were able to connect Flores to the murder through DNA evidence. His DNA had been added to a national database following a 2004 arrest in Arizona for forgery, The Inquirer reported.
WCAU reported that Flores was deported to his native Honduras before he was linked to DeJesus’ slaying.
At the time of his arrest, Flores was on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives list. He is facing various charges, including unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, murder, kidnapping, and indecent assault.
Flores is awaiting extradition.
“25,000 pounds got lifted off my back,” DeJesus’ mother told WPVI following Flores’ arrest. “I believe if you put it in God’s hands. It’s not in our time, it’s in God’s time, and you will get your justice.”
Source: NewsFinale | Read the Full Story…
