In a shocking turn of events, a man who had been on the run for over three decades after being charged with the murder of his wife has finally been brought back to the United States to face trial. Jose Lazaro Cruz, who was 24 years old at the time, was accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife, Ana Jurado, in West Falls Church, Virginia, on April 30, 1991. The incident left the community in shock, especially considering that Jurado had three young children at the time.

According to Fairfax County Police, Lazaro Cruz fled the country through the southern border with the help of a smuggler and sought refuge in El Salvador, a country that did not have provisions for extraditing suspects sought by the U.S. Despite the challenges posed by his escape, Virginia detectives traveled to El Salvador in 1999 and were able to gather crucial information about Lazaro Cruz's whereabouts. This marked the beginning of a meticulous investigation that would span over two decades.

The breakthrough in the case came in July 2022 when Lazaro Cruz attempted to enter Costa Rica to visit family members. He was promptly arrested, and authorities began the lengthy process of extraditing him back to the United States. Finally, earlier this month, he was successfully brought back to Fairfax County, Virginia, and is currently being held at the Fairfax County jail as he awaits trial.

During a press conference on Monday, Fairfax County Police released two images of Lazaro Cruz, one from the 1990s and one after his arrest. Deputy Chief of Investigations Eli Cory revealed that Lazaro Cruz had remarried and started a new family in El Salvador, where he worked as a truck driver. Cory also mentioned that Lazaro Cruz had initially attempted to enter Canada but was turned away due to using falsified documentation. He then made his way to Houston, Texas, and crossed the southern border with the assistance of a people smuggler.

Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis expressed his determination to seek justice for Ana Jurado and her family, emphasizing that the case was not a traditional cold case, as the suspect had been identified early on but had managed to evade capture. "He avoided accountability for something he did nearly 33 years ago," Davis said. "We've never forgotten the family. We've never forgotten the seriousness of this crime. And we never stopped."

The arrest and extradition of Jose Lazaro Cruz bring a glimmer of hope to the family of Ana Jurado, who have been waiting for justice for over three decades. The Fairfax County Police Major Crimes Bureau is urging anyone with additional information about the case to come forward and contact them at 703-246-7800. The trial is expected to shed light on the events surrounding the tragic murder and provide closure to the victim's loved ones.