Man arrested for 1998 murder of 28-year-old woman in Phoenix

PHOENIX — After 26 years of investigation, cold case detectives have arrested a man for the 1998 murder of a woman in Phoenix, authorities announced Friday.

Sarah Carr, 28, was found shot in a home near 14th Street and McDowell Road on July 9, 1998, and she later died.

The case had been cold from 1998 through 2016, as original detectives had only the suspect’s nickname to work with.

Detectives used new technology to identify the suspect as now-58-year-old Javier Lorenzano-Nunez, who had spent time living in California and most recently in Mexico following the alleged murder.

Lorenzano-Nunez was indicted as detectives worked with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, resulting in an arrest warrant. The U.S. Justice Department worked with law enforcement officials in Mexico to arrest the suspect.

He was extradited to Phoenix on Wednesday, authorities said.

Lorenzano-Nunez is being held on a $3.5 million bond, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

In a YouTube video posted by Phoenix police, Carr’s son, Garrett Miller, said it was his mother’s case that inspired him to become a police officer in Austin, Texas.

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