EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A man has been found not guilty in connection with a 31-year-old murder case, according to court records obtained by KFOX14/CBS4.
72-year-old Arturo Garcia was arrested and accused of the murder of three people, including a 59-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman, and a three-year-old boy.
The victims were found in a home on Garden Gate in 1994 near Montwood High School.
According to court records, Garcia was found not guilty on Monday and was acquitted on Wednesday.
In a statement emailed to KFOX14/CBS4, District Attorney James Montoya said while his office is disappointed in the outcome of the case, he extends his condolences to the victims’ families.
“While we are disappointed with the verdict, we respect the jury’s decision. Cold cases like this are notoriously difficult to investigate and prosecute, but I’m confident that our team did the best job possible to bring clarity to the evidence that was collected more than 30 years ago. I also want extend my deepest condolences to Santoni and Villa families who have waited many, many years for their day in court,” Montoya said.
The verdict comes after Garcia was arrested in November 2022 in connection with the three murders whose bodies were found in a home on the 1800 block of Garden Gate in 1994.
At the time of the murders, police said they could not find any leads until 2015.
The case was then reopened when they were able to identify Garcia as a suspect and put a warrant out for his arrest.
However, police said they could not find him until 2020, when investigators learned he was arrested in Mexico City.
Garcia remained there until Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, when he was extradited to the U.S.
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