On Wednesday, federal authorities apprehended a man believed to be responsible for the rape and murder of a girl in Pennsylvania back in 2000.
In August 2000, the body of I’riana DeJesus was discovered wrapped in wallpaper in Philadelphia, days after she had been sexually assaulted and strangled. According to WPVI, Alexis Flores, identified as a suspect in 2007, was captured this week in Honduras and is set to be extradited to the United States to face charges.
The Inquirer detailed that DeJesus vanished on July 29, 2000, while she was playing in her family’s front yard. A family friend recounted seeing DeJesus with an unfamiliar man around the time she disappeared.
Initially, police identified the suspect as a man named “Carlos,” a transient who resided in the same building where DeJesus’ body was found. This man disappeared after the discovery of DeJesus.
By 2007, authorities were able to connect Flores to DeJesus’ murder using DNA evidence. His DNA had been entered into a database in 2004 following his arrest in Arizona for forgery, as reported by the Inquirer.
WCAU reported that Flores had been deported to Honduras, his country of origin, prior to being linked to DeJesus’ killing.
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.”
