Fugitive wanted in 2000 kidnapping caught in Mexico
A fugitive wanted for kidnapping a Riverside County woman at knife point and stealing her car has been captured in Mexico, more than 14 years after the crime, prosecutors said.
Mario Lua Mendoza, 41, was arrested last week by Mexican authorities in Ensenada, after an investigation by U.S. Marshals tracked him down at the home of a relative where he had been staying, according to a statement from the Riverside County district attorney’s office.
Mendoza, who is a U.S. citizen, has been extradited back to California, and is being held in the Indio jail in lieu of $250,000 bond, prosecutors said. He faces charges including one count each of kidnapping and carjacking. His arraignment is set for Tuesday.
Authorites have been searching for Mendoza since Jan. 15, 2000, when, early that morning, he allegedly came up on a woman from behind and forced her into her vehicle at knifepoint. The woman was also hit in the face by a bat.
Prosecutors said Mendoza drove away with the woman, stopping at one point to tie her up, then continued to a vineyard in Oasis. He allegedly took money from her wallet and tied her to a grape tree before driving away. Eventually, the woman was able to free herself and walked until she found help.
Twitter: @rar
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