Sutter County District Attorney Announces Capture of Cold Case Homicide Suspect
Above: Stock Image
The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office has announced the identification and arrest of the primary suspect in connection to a cold case murder of his estranged wife, which occurred in the summer of 1999.
According to a press release by the District Attorney’s Office, Francisco Arellano was held to answer and bound over for trial on Friday, June 16, for the alleged willful, deliberate, and premeditated first-degree murder of Blanca Duenas-Arellano, which occurred on July 26, 1999. The decision followed a day-long preliminary examination that included the testimony of seven witnesses.
The murder investigation began in 1999 when 32-year-old Blanca Duenas-Arellano was found deceased in her apartment located in the 600 block of Queens Avenue. Francisco Arellano, her estranged husband and 27 years old at the time, emerged as the primary suspect. However, he had reportedly fled to Mexico, taking their two children with him, immediately after the murder.
In 2019, detectives from the Yuba City Police Department received information indicating that Mr. Arellano was residing on the state of Morales, Mexico. A collaborative effort between the Yuba City Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Office of International Affairs in Washington, D.C., led to his extradition. On June 22, 2022, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals, Arellano was taken into custody in Mexico.
Following his extradition on November 18, 2022, Francisco Arellano was transported by the Yuba City Police Department from the border to Yuba City and subsequently booked into the Sutter County Jail. He remains in custody on a no bail status. The next court appearance for Mr. Arellano is scheduled for July 24 of this year, during which a trial date is expected to be set.
District Attorney Jennifer R. Dupré is reportedly leading the prosecution team, which includes the dedicated efforts of the District Attorney Investigations Unit and Victim Advocate Juan Escobar. It was unclear at press time whether Arellano had retained an attorney.
