Murder suspect believed to have fled to Mexico

A San Francisco man wanted on a $10 million warrant for allegedly slashing his girlfriend’s throat and setting her apartment on fire to conceal the homicide is believed to have fled to Mexico to avoid murder charges, according to records filed in federal court.

Renato Yedra-Briseno, 37, is wanted in the killing of 34-year-old Veronica DeNitto, whose body was found in January at an apartment at 85 Kent Court in Daly City, court records show. A neighbor reported hearing DeNitto cry in pain around 5 a.m. on Jan. 15, the morning of the attack. Surveillance video at a nearby gas station showed Yedra-Briseno purchasing a portable gas tank, according to authorities.

Details of the homicide and Yedra-Briseno’s reported escape to Mexico were described in court records last week, when federal prosecutors charged Yedra-Briseno with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Days after the homicide, authorities interviewed Yedra-Briseno’s cousin, who admitted another relative — whose name is listed only as “M.Y.” in court records — told the cousin they had to leave for Mexico because, “your cousin, Renato is in trouble.” M.Y. later admitted to authorities to giving Yedra-Briseno a ride to Tijuana, Mexico, on Jan. 15 and immediately returning to Daly City, according to the criminal complaint.

Yedra-Briseno’s current whereabouts are unknown, prosecutors said.

Authorities have not released the suspected motive behind the homicide, but say Yedra-Briseno and DeNitto had dated after meeting at a local Quality Meats where they both worked. In the apartment fire — allegedly started by Yedra-Briseno in an attempt to cover up the crime — a neighbor was forced to jump from her balcony with her children to escape the flames, authorities said.

About 12 hours after DeNitto’s body was discovered, authorities found Yedra-Briseno’s vehicle abandoned near Crocker Amazon Playground in San Francisco, according to court records. Inside, they allegedly found “a knife, gas tank, black shoes, cocaine, female underwear, indicia (distinguishing marks), alcohol bottles and disinfecting wipes,” the complaint says.

Yedra-Briseno was seen on surveillance video at the park about three hours after the homicide, and a Honda registered to M.Y. was seen in the same area, authorities said. The same Honda was spotted going into Mexico at the San Ysidro Point of Entry about 10 hours after that, the complaint says.