OKC couple wanted in ‘street justice’ homicide arrested
An Oklahoma City couple wanted in the death of a 21-year-old man were arrested in Mexico and are waiting to be extradited to Oklahoma County, authorities said.
Della Marie Nichols, 30, and Adrian Escajeda, 29, are accused in the death Nichols’ half-brother, Ulises Lopez.
The U.S. Marshal’s Service reported Saturday that Nichols and Escajeda were arrested in Mexico, but they did not give the location or any details about the arrest.
They said the two were booked into El Paso County jail in Texas and are awaiting extradition.
About 3:20 p.m. Dec. 5, police found Lopez’s body inside a home in southwest Oklahoma City. Officers reported Lopez had been bound in duct tape and had a belt tightly wrapped around his neck, according to a court affidavit.
Authorities said Lopez was beaten and killed by Nichol’s boyfriend, Escajeda, after she told him that Lopez had sexually assaulted a young girl. Police reported that Escajeda texted Nichols after the killing, saying, “I love you. I did this for you.”
Prosecutors haven’t determined if the sexual assault allegations are true.
Nichols and Escajeda reportedly fled Oklahoma for Mexico a few days after Lopez was killed. They were both charged with first-degree murder Friday in Oklahoma County.