February 9 Killer | |
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![]() Juan Antonio Arreola Murillo | |
Born | Juan Antonio Arreola Murillo October 7, 1980 [2] Mexico |
Details | |
Victims | 3 |
Span of crimes | February 9, 2006 – February 9, 2008 |
Country | United States |
State(s) | Utah |
Date apprehended | January 6, 2022 |
Imprisoned at | Utah State Correctional Facility [1] |
Juan Antonio Arreola Murillo (born October 7, 1980), known as the February 9 Killer, [3] is a Mexican-born murderer [4] [5] [6] [7] responsible for the 2006 murder of Sonia Mejia and her unborn baby and the 2008 murder of Damiana Castillo in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The murders were committed on the same day, February 9, hence the name.
In 2009, the unsolved murders of Sonia Mejia in Taylorsville and Damiana Castillo in West Valley City were linked through DNA analysis. [4] The corresponding police departments concurrently released a description of the perpetrator as a Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20s. [6] A 20-man task force was then formed. As of 2012 [update], the case was classified as a cold case. [4]
In November 2018, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced that a suspect was in custody in another jurisdiction and was in the process of being extradited back to Utah to face murder charges. [8] In January 2022, the charging documents were unsealed and revealed the suspect to be 41-year-old Mexican national Juan Arreola, who had previous convictions for fraud in 2008 and was later deported to his homeland, where he remained until his extradition. [9]
In June 2023, Arreola pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder. He was subsequently sentenced in August to 60 years to life in prison. [10]
February 9 Killer | |
---|---|
![]() Juan Antonio Arreola Murillo | |
Born | Juan Antonio Arreola Murillo October 7, 1980 [2] Mexico |
Details | |
Victims | 3 |
Span of crimes | February 9, 2006 – February 9, 2008 |
Country | United States |
State(s) | Utah |
Date apprehended | January 6, 2022 |
Imprisoned at | Utah State Correctional Facility [1] |
Juan Antonio Arreola Murillo (born October 7, 1980), known as the February 9 Killer, [3] is a Mexican-born murderer [4] [5] [6] [7] responsible for the 2006 murder of Sonia Mejia and her unborn baby and the 2008 murder of Damiana Castillo in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. The murders were committed on the same day, February 9, hence the name.
In 2009, the unsolved murders of Sonia Mejia in Taylorsville and Damiana Castillo in West Valley City were linked through DNA analysis. [4] The corresponding police departments concurrently released a description of the perpetrator as a Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20s. [6] A 20-man task force was then formed. As of 2012 [update], the case was classified as a cold case. [4]
In November 2018, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced that a suspect was in custody in another jurisdiction and was in the process of being extradited back to Utah to face murder charges. [8] In January 2022, the charging documents were unsealed and revealed the suspect to be 41-year-old Mexican national Juan Arreola, who had previous convictions for fraud in 2008 and was later deported to his homeland, where he remained until his extradition. [9]
In June 2023, Arreola pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder. He was subsequently sentenced in August to 60 years to life in prison. [10]