Phoenix, AZ — A man wanted for more than 25 years in connection with the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend has been returned to Arizona after authorities located and arrested him in Mexico, federal officials said.
Abraham Rafael Pedroza-Garcia, 65, was taken into custody by Mexican authorities in May before being extradited to the United States on Friday, Sept. 11. Members of the District of Arizona’s Mexico Investigative Liaison Team with the U.S. Marshals Service handled his return, according to federal authorities.
Pedroza-Garcia is wanted on charges including murder, aggravated assault and burglary in connection with a deadly 2000 attack inside a Phoenix home.
Ex-girlfriend killed inside Phoenix home
The case dates back to April 1, 2000, when Pedroza-Garcia was allegedly involved in the stabbing of his former girlfriend, Maria Cruz-Galvan, at her Phoenix residence.
Cruz-Galvan was fatally stabbed, authorities said. Her partner, Sergio Covarrubias, was also stabbed during the incident. An arrest warrant for Pedroza-Garcia was issued on Sept. 13, 2000, but he remained a fugitive for decades.
The case eventually became an international investigation as authorities worked to determine where the suspect had gone and locate him.
The U.S. Marshals Service said the Phoenix Police Department and Maricopa County Attorney’s Office requested assistance from the agency’s WANTED Violent Offender Task Force in 2023.
That effort ultimately produced information that helped investigators trace Pedroza-Garcia to Mexico.
Investigators traced him to Mexico
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, investigators working with the District of Arizona’s Mexico Investigative Liaison Team developed information in 2024 indicating Pedroza-Garcia was living in Mexico.
Authorities then coordinated with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners while preparing the documents required to seek his extradition.
The international investigation moved forward in 2025, when Mexican authorities issued an arrest warrant for Pedroza-Garcia in April. He was apprehended the following month.
After the necessary extradition process was completed, Pedroza-Garcia was returned to the United States on Sept. 11 and brought back to Arizona to face the charges that had remained outstanding for more than two decades.
U.S. Marshals say case shows passage of time did not end pursuit
U.S. Marshal Van Bayless credited the work of multiple agencies involved in the case.
“The successful apprehension and return of Pedroza-Garcia to Arizona reflects the outstanding investigative work and cooperation of the Phoenix Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Mexican authorities,” Bayless said.
He also said the case demonstrated that international borders and the passage of time did not prevent authorities from continuing to pursue the allegations and seeking to bring the suspect before a court.
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The investigation highlights how long-running fugitive cases can remain active even decades after an arrest warrant is issued, particularly when investigators obtain new information about a suspect’s location.
Pedroza-Garcia scheduled for arraignment
Pedroza-Garcia is now back in Arizona and is scheduled to appear in court. According to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, his arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 18.
The allegations against Pedroza-Garcia date to 2000, and the charges will proceed through the court system following his return. For investigators, however, the latest development closes a major chapter in a case that had remained open for more than 26 years.
Authorities’ efforts to locate Pedroza-Garcia eventually crossed international borders and led investigators to Mexico, where he was apprehended before being extradited back to the United States.
The upcoming court proceeding will mark his first major step in addressing the long-standing charges in Arizona.
What do you think about this decades-long fugitive case? Share your thoughts in the comments.
