A man accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s new partner in California has been captured in Mexico after evading capture for eight years, officials announced.
Humberto Rodriguez Martinez, aged 39, was brought back to Orange County on December 4 following a coordinated effort by Mexican authorities and the US Marshals Service, as stated by prosecutors on Friday.
Authorities had been seeking Martinez in connection with the murder of Daniel Reyes, the 32-year-old boyfriend of his former partner, on October 17, 2017.
According to police reports, Martinez, then 30, along with his associate Adan Zapot-Leyva, 28, visited his ex-girlfriend’s Anaheim apartment to care for his two children while she was at work.
Martinez, who was unlawfully residing in the US as a Mexican national at the time, had ended his relationship with his ex-girlfriend months earlier, but the two shared parenting responsibilities, prosecutors revealed.
After his ex-girlfriend returned from her job, both Martinez and Zapot-Leyva departed from the apartment around 8:30 pm. Roughly half an hour later, Reyes arrived at the residence.
The following morning, officers with the Anaheim Police Department responded to a nearby intersection after witnesses reported two men chasing Reyes down and one of them stabbing him.
Reyes, who was stabbed 10 times, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Humberto Rodriguez Martinez, 39, was taken into custody by US officials in California after he was discovered in Mexico years after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend to death in Anaheim
Zapot-Leyva later admitted to participating in the killing and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in 2023. He was sentenced to 15 years to life.
Police charged Martinez with murder as well, but he had already made a run for it.
His car was found in San Diego, and a $2 million warrant was issued for his arrest.
After years of managing to stay under the radar, authorities were able to track him down last month and get him shipped back to the US.
Once he touched down at Los Angeles International Airport, homicide detectives with the Anaheim Police Department took Martinez into custody.
The alleged murderer was seen stern-faced in an all white outfit and tan jacket while several officers escorted him.
Martinez pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday and is currently being held without bail.
As part of his plea deal, Zapot-Leyva told authorities that he and Martinez had staked out the apartment for hours beforehand because they knew Reyes would be in there, the agreement obtained by City News Service stated.
Martinez (pictured) allegedly carried out the murder with his friend Adan Zapot-Leyva, who pleaded guilty in 2023
At the time, the unidentified ex-girlfriend had called him to ask where he and Martinez were, leading him to play a ‘deliberate trick’ on her after saying they had left the area hours ago, per the agreement.
In reality, they were waiting for Reyes to exit the home, the agreement said.
After the pair allegedly chased him down and bludgeoned him with a knife, Reyes begged them to stop, telling them: ‘Please don’t… I have children,’ the document said.
Now, with Martinez finally facing charges for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend, authorities stressed that justice will be served, no matter how much time has passed.
‘The pursuit of justice will never be derailed by time or distance,’ said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
Zapot-Leyva (pictured) was sentenced to 15 years to life for second-degree murder. Martinez pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday and is currently being held without bail
‘The long arm of Orange County law enforcement reaches to every corner of the earth to ensure the full weight of the law is felt by those who commit the most heinous acts of violence against other human beings.
‘We are grateful for the incredible work of our investigators and prosecutors and of our partners, both domestic and international, for their assistance in tracking down a wanted murderer and bringing him back to Orange County to face the consequences of his actions.’
Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid added: ‘This arrest does not undo the pain the victim’s family has endured, but it reinforces our commitment and promise to our community: we will never stop working until justice is served.’
