Arturo Ortega Garcia, 69, was in jail in Mexico City, Mexico amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He is accused of fatally stabbing Francisco Clive Santoni Thornhill, 59, Maria Concepcion “Connie” Villa, 28, and Dante Santoni Villa, 3, on August 11, 1994.

That day, Francisco, Connie and Dante were found dead with multiple stab wounds inside their home in El Paso, Texas, United States. Dante is Francisco and Connie’s son.

No suspect was identified and case went cold. In 2015, technological advancements resulted in the identification of Ortega Garcia as a suspect in the fatal stabbings.

A warrant for Ortega Garcia’s arrest was issued but his whereabouts were unknown. In 2020, he was arrested in Mexico City for an unrelated crime.

On November 4, 2022, Ortega Garcia was extradited from Mexico City. The U.S. Marshal’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested him in El Paso.

Ortega Garcia was booked into the El Paso County Detention Center in El Paso. His bond was set at $5 million.

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Oscar Leeser, 64, is the incumbent and 52nd mayor of El Paso. He assumed office on January 5, 2021.

El Paso has three sister cities namely Chihuahua City, Mexico; Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and Hadera, Israel. Professional wrestler Chavo Guerrero Jr., 52, and professional soccer player Mikey Ambrose, 29, were both born in El Paso.