On Wednesday, federal authorities arrested a man suspected of raping and killing a girl in Pennsylvania in 2000.
I’riana DeJesus’ body was found wrapped in wallpaper in Philadelphia in August 2000, days after she was raped and strangled. WPVI reported that Alexis Flores, who was identified as a suspect in 2007, was captured in Honduras this week and will be extradited to the United States to face charges.
The Inquirer reported that DeJesus vanished on July 29, 2000, while playing in her family’s front yard. A family friend said she saw DeJesus walking with an unknown man around the time of her disappearance.
At the time, police had identified the suspect as a man named “Carlos,” a drifter who lived in the building where DeJesus’ body was discovered. The man vanished after DeJesus was found.
In 2007, authorities used DNA to link Flores to DeJesus’ murder. Flores’ DNA was entered into a database in 2004m after he was arrested in Arizona for forgery, according to the Inquirer.
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.”
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[Featured image: FBI]