Alo Tejada, Costa Rica – After being on the run for over 30 years, Jose Lazaro Cruz, the estranged husband of Ana Jurado, has been extradited from Costa Rica to face charges in Virginia for her murder. The crime took place on April 30, 1991, when Cruz allegedly slashed Jurado’s throat outside her West Falls Church, Va., home. The tragic incident left her dead at the scene, leaving behind three children, two daughters, and a son.
According to Fairfax County police, Lazaro Cruz was identified as the perpetrator soon after the murder. However, before authorities could apprehend him, he fled, first attempting to escape to Canada, then successfully making his way to El Salvador with the help of a smuggler. Despite years of searching, it wasn’t until 2022 that the U.S. Department of Justice informed detectives of Lazaro Cruz’s arrest in Costa Rica, where he had been held for a year and a half before being extradited to the United States.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis stated in a Monday news conference that Lazaro Cruz had been on the run, avoiding accountability for his actions for nearly 33 years. During his time as a fugitive, Lazaro Cruz had started a new family and worked as a truck driver. Now 60, he is currently being held at Fairfax County jail as he awaits trial.
The extradition of Lazaro Cruz brings hope for justice for the family of Ana Jurado, whose tragic murder has not been forgotten by the authorities. This resolution to a decades-old case serves as a reminder of the tireless efforts of law enforcement to seek justice for victims and closure for their families.