Suspect extradited from Mexico in connection with Tempe stabbing death 16 years ago

After nearly two decades, Tempe police and the U.S. Marshal's Service found and arrested a suspect in connection with the cold case stabbing death of 20-year-old David Lopez.

According to Tempe police, Lopez was stabbed to death on Dec. 27, 2008, at an apartment complex near McKellips and Scottsdale Roads. Before he died, the 20-year-old Lopez showed up at the doorstep of a neighbor and said he had been stabbed and asked them to call 911.

Lopez died that evening and detectives continued to investigate, but the case ultimately went cold.

A Tempe police cold case detective re-opened the case in 2014. The detective used "an advanced DNA scientific examination" to link the fatal stabbing to Jose Juan Vergara Ortiz, authorities said.

Ortiz, who was 16 when he allegedly stabbed Lopez in 2008, is now 32. Police said they worked with the Marshal's Service to locate and extradite Ortiz from Mexico, where he was living for an unknown period.

"We are grateful to the U.S. Marshal's Service Mexico Investigative Liaison Team for their collaboration and endless pursuit of justice. We hope this arrest helps ease the pain for the family of the victim of this violent crime," said Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy.

Ortiz was arrested Nov. 15 on suspicion of first-degree murder and armed robbery charges, according to Tempe police.

"The U.S. Marshals Service and Tempe Police Department worked relentlessly on this case and successfully located and extradited this fugitive from justice from the country of Mexico," said Van Bayless, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. "We are committed to use all of our collective law enforcement resources against anyone committing violent acts in our communities and bring them to justice."