YUBA CITY, Calif. — After evading law enforcement for more than two decades, the suspect in the 1999 killing of Blanca Dueñas-Arellano was arrested and extradited to the United States Friday, Yuba City Police officials said.
Police believe Francisco Arellano, now 51, killed his estranged wife, Dueñas-Arellano, in the 600 block of Queens Avenue July 26, 1999.
After the homicide, Francisco allegedly fled to Mexico with their two children. An arrest warrant was issued for Francisco in 1999 but, police say they were unable to locate him for 20 years.
In 2019, investigators received information that Francisco was living in the Mexican state of Morales. The Yuba City Police Department and the Sutter County District Attorney’s office worked with the Office of International Affairs to extradite Francisco.
On June 22, 2022, members of the U.S. Marshalls Services arrested Francisco in Morales, Mexico. He was extradited to Sutter County Friday.
Francisco was booked into Sutter County Jail on suspicion of murder with a no-bail warrant.
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