Man arrested in slaying of ex-police officer
A tip from a person watching a television show in Mexico was key to the Wednesday arrest of a man accused of killing a former Oklahoma police officer more than five years ago.
Luis Octavio Frias, 34, is accused of fatally stabbing his ex-wife, Janett Reyna, in August 2013 in front of her children. Reyna, a former Blackwell police officer, had filed a protective order against Frias two days before her death. Frias was suspected of having fled to Mexico after the killing.
In November, Frias was added to the U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted list. He was located Wednesday in a suburb of Guadalajara, Mexico, authorities said.
On Jan. 16, Reyna's killing was highlighted on an episode of “In Pursuit with John Walsh.” Authorities said the show generated dozens of tips in the case, but it was the airing of the show in Mexico that led to a breakthrough.
“The Investigation Discovery channel started airing John Walsh's new show in Mexico on January 31. The next day, a viewer in Guadalajara, Mexico, sent in a very detailed tip,” said U.S. Marshal Johnny Lee Kuhlman of the Western District of Oklahoma.
On Wednesday, a deputy U.S. Marshal interviewed the person who called in the tip and the information provided was given to Mexican authorities, who arrested Frias just after 6 p.m., Kuhlman said. Frias was expelled from the country Thursday morning for violating immigration law, and was escorted by Mexican authorities to a Dallas airport.
As he was exiting the plane, Frias was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service, bound by the same handcuffs that had been previously issued to Reyna during her career as a Blackwell police officer. He is currently being held in U.S. Marshal custody in Oklahoma City on a federal charge of flight to avoid prosecution.
Frias was known to have family living near the area where he was arrested, but it was unknown how long he had been living in Mexico, Kuhlman said.
“He was obviously living in Guadalajara, was employed, and, obviously, we just became aware of this information very recently. So, there was very little background work done other than to try to get with the Mexican authorities and get him taken into custody,” Kuhlman said.
Blackwell Police Chief Dwayne Wood said there were “no more sweeter words” than when he was told that Frias was in custody.
“Yesterday was a great day in Blackwell, Oklahoma. We couldn't be more thankful to the U.S. Marshals,” Wood said at a Friday news conference. “That was just a relief of 5 ½ years, it just felt so good.”
Kuhlman said authorities have notified Reyna's family of the arrest, adding that they were pleased upon hearing the news. “They've been waiting for this day a long time, as the rest of us have,” he said.
Kay County District Attorney Brian Hermanson said a hearing in the case was held Friday, where a judge determined Frias should be held without bail. He is charged in Kay County District Court with one count of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy, court records show.
“Obviously, after 5 years, it was somewhat frustrating that Mr. Frias was not in custody, and now thanks to all of the good work that those people have done we at least can move forward with this,” Hermanson said.
A hearing for the federal charge was held Friday afternoon, but the charge will likely be dismissed later as Frias is handed over to Kay County authorities, said acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, Robert J. Troester.