Man convicted of murder after fleeing to Mexico 14 years ago

A jury found Martin Estevez guilty of 2nd-degree murder Thursday following a 14-year-long case that involved a missing local woman.

Estevez had fled to Mexico 14 years ago after he was suspected of killing Karla Perez Garcia who went missing on Feb. 7, 2004, according to Karolyn Kaczorowski, the state’s prosecutor in the case.

Skeletal remains recovered by the Yuma County Sheriffs Department on Oct. 19, 2005, in Dome Valley confirmed a DNA analysis with Perez Garcia, Kaczorowski said.

Prior to the recovery of the body, Kaczorowski said the suspect, Estevez who was Perez Garcia’s boyfriend, had fled to Mexico and was allegedly living there for 14 years.

While trying to enter back into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, Estevez was arrested, the state’s prosecutor said.

Estevez was booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on March 26, 2018, according to Yuma County Detention Center website.

A sentencing hearing will take place on Jan. 8.

Estevez could face anywhere from 10 to 22 years in prison, Kaczorowski added.