Mexican illegal alien arrested in murder of ex-girlfriend

Associated Press:

Lindsey Fawson tried twice to break up with her boyfriend, her mother said.

Now the 22-year-old mother of two is dead and the boyfriend has been arrested in her slaying.

"He wasn't able to let her go," said her mother, Tessie Seneca. "She was a good, caring, loving person and she didn't deserve this at all, not that anybody deserves this, but she was my little girl."

The suspect, Juan Carlos Diaz-Arevalo, 25, who initially was identified by police as Juan Garcia, was spotted by South Jordan police about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Draper police Sgt. Scott Peck.

Diaz-Arevalo ran into the back yard of a home, Peck said. Police from five agencies closed in on him. A Midvale police dog was sent in and struggled with Diaz-Arevalo, biting his arms. A round was discharged from a sawed-off shotgun during the struggle. Investigators were unsure whether the weapon was fired in an attempt to kill the dog or discharged accidentally. The dog was not hit. The shotgun was believed to be the one used in the slaying of Fawson Monday night.

The slaying occurred Monday night when Fawson and Diaz-Arevalo showed up separately at the home of a common acquaintance, Peck said.

Fawson had her two children, ages 3 and 5, with her. One child had already gotten out of the car and gone inside the house where Fawson's sister was when Diaz-Arevalo and Fawson began arguing, Peck said.

The two apparently arguing over who owned what property, Peck said.

The altercation escalated when Diaz-Arevalo reached in through the window, and Fawson opened the door and "mule kicked" Diaz-Arevalo. She was shot in the face, police said.

Tessie Seneca said her daughter was a former meth user. She volunteered regularly to take drug tests to prove to her family she was no longer using the drug.

Diaz-Arevalo, who had been deported to Mexico at least twice, was wanted for unlawful possession of a controlled substance or counterfeit substance with intent to distribute, and three misdemeanors.

He allegedly admitted to police he intended to sell methamphetamine found in a backpack inside the car police pulled over in February, according to the charges.

In 2001, Diaz-Arevalo pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a restricted person and other charges, and he was deported.

The following year, he pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the country and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, after which he again was deported, said Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City.

Federal prosecutors are considering new federal immigration and firearms charges, and an immigration detainer was being prepared, Rydalch said.

Fawson's sons, ages 3 and 4, are now being cared for by their grandparents in Sandy.

Woman's ex jailed on suspicion of murder