Cold cases: Phoenix, Tempe police departments arrest homicide suspects in 2003, 2008 cases

PHOENIX — The police departments in Phoenix and Tempe on Friday announced separate arrests in cold case homicides from over 15 years ago.

Both cases involved a suspect who fled to Mexico after committing their alleged crime and had to be extradited, which the U.S. Marshals Service assisted with.

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

Phoenix PD arrests suspect in 2003 shooting cold case

The Phoenix Police Department arrested the second suspect in a 2003 armed robbery that killed 57-year-old Anton Matous, after the first suspect had been arrested and convicted of his crimes in 2003.

Investigators who initially worked the case learned Hector Bautista, 42, fled the country immediately after the shooting took place. The location and extradition process has been ongoing since then, authorities said.

On Friday, he was arrested in Phoenix on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery.

“Ever since this cruel and senseless murder occurred in 2003, (Phoenix PD and other agencies) have worked tirelessly to get justice for Anton and his family,” Detective Dominick Roestenberg said in a release.

Tempe PD arrests suspect in 2008 stabbing cold case

The Tempe Police Department arrested a man suspected of fatally stabbing a 20-year-old in 2008.

David Lopez, 20, showed up at the doorstep of a neighbor on Dec. 27, 2008, asking for them to call 911 because he had been stabbed at his apartment complex, authorities said. Lopez died later that night.

Jose Juan Vergara Ortiz, 32, was linked to the case through advanced DNA testing in 2014 before he was extradited from Mexico and arrested.

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