Love triangle homicide suspect who fled to Mexico and spent years on the run is lastly extradited again to California

A man who fled to Mexico after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend to death in California has finally been nabbed after eight years on the run, according to authorities. 

Humberto Rodriguez Martinez, 39, was extradited to Orange County on December 4 after Mexican authorities and the US Marshals Service located him, prosecutors said on Friday. 

The former fugitive was wanted for murdering Daniel Reyes, his ex-partner’s 32-year-old boyfriend, on October 17, 2017. 

According to law enforcement, Martinez, then 30, and his friend Adan Zapot-Leyva, 28, went to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in Anaheim to watch his two children, whom he shares with her, while she went to work. 

Martinez, a Mexican citizen who was in the US illegally at the time of the murder, and his ex had been broken up for several months but co-parented their children, prosecutors noted. 

Both Martinez and Zapot-Leyva left his ex-girlfriend’s apartment around 8.30pm that day after she returned home from her job. About 30 minutes later, Reyes arrived at the home.

The following morning, officers with the Anaheim Police Department responded to a nearby intersection after witnesses reported two men chasing Reyes down and one of them stabbing him. 

Reyes, who was stabbed 10 times, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Humberto Rodriguez Martinez, 39, was taken into custody by US officials in California after he was discovered in Mexico years after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend to death in Anaheim

Zapot-Leyva later admitted to participating in the killing and pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in 2023. He was sentenced to 15 years to life. 

Police charged Martinez with murder as well, but he had already made a run for it. 

His car was found in San Diego, and a $2 million warrant was issued for his arrest. 

After years of managing to stay under the radar, authorities were able to track him down last month and get him shipped back to the US. 

Once he touched down at Los Angeles International Airport, homicide detectives with the Anaheim Police Department took Martinez into custody. 

The alleged murderer was seen stern-faced in an all white outfit and tan jacket while several officers escorted him. 

Martinez pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday and is currently being held without bail. 

As part of his plea deal, Zapot-Leyva told authorities that he and Martinez had staked out the apartment for hours beforehand because they knew Reyes would be in there, the agreement obtained by City News Service stated. 

Martinez (pictured) allegedly carried out the murder with his friend Adan Zapot-Leyva, who pleaded guilty in 2023

At the time, the unidentified ex-girlfriend had called him to ask where he and Martinez were, leading him to play a ‘deliberate trick’ on her after saying they had left the area hours ago, per the agreement. 

In reality, they were waiting for Reyes to exit the home, the agreement said.  

After the pair allegedly chased him down and bludgeoned him with a knife, Reyes begged them to stop, telling them: ‘Please don’t… I have children,’ the document said.

Now, with Martinez finally facing charges for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend, authorities stressed that justice will be served, no matter how much time has passed. 

‘The pursuit of justice will never be derailed by time or distance,’ said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. 

Zapot-Leyva (pictured) was sentenced to 15 years to life for second-degree murder. Martinez pleaded not guilty to murder on Tuesday and is currently being held without bail

‘The long arm of Orange County law enforcement reaches to every corner of the earth to ensure the full weight of the law is felt by those who commit the most heinous acts of violence against other human beings. 

‘We are grateful for the incredible work of our investigators and prosecutors and of our partners, both domestic and international, for their assistance in tracking down a wanted murderer and bringing him back to Orange County to face the consequences of his actions.’ 

Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid added: ‘This arrest does not undo the pain the victim’s family has endured, but it reinforces our commitment and promise to our community: we will never stop working until justice is served.’