What:
Press Conference to Announce the Arrest of Murder Suspect

When:
Tuesday, May 21, 2002
3:30 p.m.

Where:
LAPD West Valley Community Police Station
19020 Vanowen, Reseda, CA

Los Angeles: On Monday, May 20, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Los Angeles Police West Valley Area Homicide Detectives arrested a suspect wanted for a murder that occurred in 1982. Wanted fugitive 46 year-old Francisco Serrano Trujillo, is accused of shooting and killing Evodio Espinosa in Canoga Park on March 16, 1982, during a dispute over the affections of Trujillo’s wife. Trujillo then fled to Mexico after the murder and a felony arrest warrant was issued charging him with the slaying of Espinoza.

West Valley Area Homicide Detectives received information from an informant that Trujillo was residing in Baldwin Park under the assumed name of Andres Briseno. A driver's license photograph of Briseno was obtained and the photo bore a striking resemblance to the twenty-year-old photograph of Francisco Trujillo. Employed as a truck driver, Briseno had re-married in Mexico and it is believed he returned to the Los Angeles Area in 1986. After surveillance was conducted on Briseno’s residence, he was arrested without incident. Briseno admitted his identity to West Valley Area Homicide Detectives and also confessed to killing Espinoza. He is being held without bail and will be arraigned in Van Nuys Superior Court. Photographs of the suspect and victim will be available for media use at the press conference.

The investigation is being conducted by West Valley Homicide Detectives who can be reached at 818-756-8591. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855.)

This press release was prepared by Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.