A man suspected of a fatal stabbing in a love triangle case has been returned to the United States to face justice after spending eight years on the run in Mexico, officials have confirmed.
Years-Long Manhunt Ends with Extradition
Humberto Rodriguez Martinez, 39, was extradited from Mexico to California on 4 December 2025, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office stated. He is accused of murdering Daniel Reyes, 32, in Anaheim back in October 2017.
Prosecutors allege Martinez fatally stabbed Reyes, who was at the time dating Martinez's former girlfriend. Following the killing, Martinez is said to have fled to Mexico, initiating an international search that lasted years. A $2 million warrant was issued for his arrest.
Mexican authorities located and arrested Martinez in 2024 at the request of the United States, paving the way for his eventual extradition.
Details of the 2017 Killing
The incident unfolded on 17 October 2017. According to investigators, Martinez had gone to his ex-girlfriend's apartment to watch their two children while she worked. He was accompanied by a friend, Adan Zapot-Leyva.
After the woman returned home, the two men left. Approximately thirty minutes later, Daniel Reyes arrived at the apartment. In the early hours of the following morning, police were called to a nearby intersection where witnesses reported seeing two men chasing Reyes, with one of them stabbing him.
Responding officers found Reyes deceased, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Legal Proceedings and Statements
Martinez now faces one felony count of murder with special enhancements for lying in wait and the personal use of a knife. He pleaded not guilty in court last Tuesday and is being held without bail.
His alleged accomplice, Adan Zapot-Leyva, was arrested two days after the murder. He later pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder in 2023 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In a statement, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, "The pursuit of justice will never be derailed by time or distance. 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."
Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid added that while the arrest cannot undo the family's pain, it "reinforces our commitment and promise to our community: we will never stop working until justice is served."
Prosecutors also noted that Martinez is a Mexican citizen who was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the murder.
