Humberto Rodriguez Martinez, a 39-year-old Mexican national, has been extradited from Mexico to face charges in connection with a murder that occurred nearly a decade ago in Anaheim. Martinez is accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend in October 2017. He had been a fugitive since escaping custody in 2017.
Authorities allege that Martinez visited his ex-girlfriend's apartment that night under the pretense of helping to watch their children. Later, her new boyfriend was chased and stabbed to death nearby. An accomplice in the crime previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life.
Martinez pleaded not guilty upon his arrival and is currently being held without bail in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The extradition was the result of a joint operation involving Mexican officials, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Department of Justice, with Martinez being taken into custody by Anaheim police upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport in 2024. Law enforcement officials emphasized their commitment to pursuing justice regardless of time or distance.