Suspect in California murder arrested in Mexico almost two decades after the crime

SEATTLE - Police arrested a man accused of murder for a crime committed almost two decades ago in the city of Riverside, California.

Luis Contreras, 50, was arrested by Mexican authorities in Mexicali on July 8, and has since been extradited back to Riverside County to face charges. Contreras is the primary suspect in the 2005 killing of 38-year-old Vera, found dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside a home on the 4700 block of Doane Avenue in Riverside.

According to witness accounts, Vera tried to stop Contreras from beating his girlfriend in the street. Contreras allegedly stepped in and shot Vera multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Three suspects were believed to be involved in the case, two of which were apprehended weeks after Vera's killing. One was charged with accessory to murder and received a 3-year prison sentence, while charges were not filed on the second suspect due to lack of evidence. Detectives said witnesses saw two cars leaving the area, but despite their efforts, they could not track down Contreras before he traveled to Mexico.

Riverside Police Department's Homicide Cold Case Unit restarted the search for Contreras in June, and they teamed up with the department's METRO Team and the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force to complete the arrest.

Just a few weeks later, U.S. Marshals and Mexican law enforcement found Contreras in Mexicali and then transferred him to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department jail, where he was booked for murder and now awaits prosecution.