A 37-year-old man was arrested in Laredo, Texas earlier this month in connection with the 1995 murder of Gabriella Tello in East Palo Alto.
Jose Luis Arreola was arrested March 10 at a border crossing by U.S. Homeland Security agents.
Tello, 19, was found murdered inside her home in East Palo Alto May 21, 1995. Tello was discovered by a family member who arrived home after a family gathering in Menlo Park. Inside the home at the time of the murder was Tello’s 2-year-old daughter who was not harmed, according to police.
At the time of the incident, the investigation was handled by detectives from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. It was determined that Tello had been stabbed and the suspect was identified as Arreola, her boyfriend, who was 20 years old at the time, according to police. A warrant was issued for Arreola’s arrest, however, it is believed that he fled to Mexico after the murder, according to police.
Over the years, unsuccessful attempts were made to locate Arreola, who has multiple aliases including Mario Garcia and Gerardo Tello.
The case has been forwarded to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. Family members of the victim have been contacted by sheriff’s detectives and are relieved to hear their sister’s alleged killer had finally been arrested, according to police.