The husband accused of murdering his wife inside their Brampton apartment has been arrested in Mexico after a 14-year search, Peel Regional Police say.
Police made the announcement in a statement Tuesday evening, sharing a photo of the suspect on Twitter being walked through Toronto Pearson International Airport by investigators.
It was at around 2 a.m. on July 13, 2006, when emergency crews were called to the apartment building near McMurchy Avenue South and Steeles Avenue West.
Police said 31-year-old Malena Morales, a mother of two, was found dead inside her unit.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Henry Morales, who was 30 at the time, on the charge of second-degree murder the next day. At the time, investigators said he left Canada and went to an unknown destination in Mexico.
Three years later, the case was featured in an episode of America’s Most Wanted. However, he continued to ellude authorities for 10 years.
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Police said in 2019, Henry was found in Mexico but wasn’t arrested due to a 10-month extradition process. The statement said officials in Mexico arrested the accused under the previously issued warrant.
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“Investigators immediately traveled to Mexico and escorted him back to Canada,” the statement said.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich praised the work of investigators in tracking the accused. He said the case highlights the threat of intimate partner violence.
“Incidents like this terrible tragedy leave behind numerous victims in their wake,” Milinovich wrote.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, police said the accused will be taken to a detention facility to begin a 14-day quarantine. A court hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
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