MESA COUNTY, Colo. -- A witness in 1989 identified a murder suspect. That suspect wasn't taken into custody by U.S. authorities until Monday.
Police say Rafael Aguialar Garcia, 67, shot and killed Charles Porter on July 4, 1989. The murder, carried out in Palisade, led police on a several decades hunt for Garcia.
The case was originally turned over to Mexican authorities in 2009, but police say they will now submit the case to Mesa County's District Attorney's Office to handle.
Police wound up catching Garcia in Denver.
Authorities say they'll pursue every avenue legally to prosecute Garcia, given the murder was on American soil and Garcia was captured in the U.S. as a free man.
---------
Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines.
