Ruben Fregosojuarez, previously identified as Ruben Fregoso, was located and arrested in Mexico
Credit: California Highway Patrol Alerts/X (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- Ruben Fregosojuarez was arrested in Mexico after allegedly killing his wife and abducting their 5-year-old daughter
- An Amber alert was issued for Daleza Fregoso on May 24, who was found safe and is now in custody with Mexican officials
- Authorities are working to extradite Ruben to the U.S. where he faces murder and child abuse charges
A Los Angeles man accused of murdering his wife, abducting their 5-year-old daughter and fleeing to Mexico has been taken into custody, according to reports.
Mexican authorities arrested Ruben Fregosojuarez over the weekend. He had allegedly fled the country with his 5-year-old daughter, Daleza Fregoso, who was reported missing after his wife was found dead, NBC Los Angeles, ABC7 LA and CBS LA reported, citing the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Authorities first identified him as Ruben Fregoso, but Los Angeles County prosecutors listed him as Ruben Fregosojuarez, according to the Los Angeles Times.
An Amber alert was issued for Daleza on May 24, after she was last seen with her father at around 4 a.m. local time that day in Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. Daleza was found safe and placed in custody with Mexican officials, per NBC Los Angeles.
Surveillance footage captured the day after the AMBER alert was issued showed Ruben, 40, at a parking garage with his daughter in San Ysidro, near the U.S. and Mexico border, per NBC Los Angeles. Ruben was pulling a suitcase as they left the garage, per Fox 5 San Diego.
Authorities accused Ruben of murdering 36-year-old Marisol Garcia Palacios and fleeing the U.S. Her body was found by the police during a welfare check at a home around 12:40 p.m. on May 25, PEOPLE previously reported.
Ruben was charged with one count of murder and one misdemeanor count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions other than great bodily injury or death, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (LADA Office)
“The killing of a mother and the abduction of a young child is the kind of violence that shocks the entire community,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in the DA's press release. “I cannot imagine the grief and fear that the innocent child faced as she was allegedly snatched after her mother was killed.”
“The defendant will face his day in court, and our Family Violence Division will pursue every available resource and work with federal and Mexican law enforcement authorities to seek justice for the woman whose life was stolen and for the child caught in this tragedy,” added Hochman.
Credit: The California Highway Patrol/X.com
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The U.S. embassy is looking to extradite Ruben back to the U.S., per CBS LA. He faces 25 years to life in state prison if convicted of his charges.
Authorities are organizing for Daleza's family to pick up and bring her back to the U.S., CBS LA reported.
PEOPLE has reached out to the LAPD and the LADA Office for comment.
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