Riverside County Snags ‘Most Wanted’ Fugitive

A wanted fugitive for 11 years was arrested and booked in the Indio jail on Tuesday for a New Year’s stabbing that left a man dead.

Sergio “Checo” Lopez Hernandez made Riverside County’s Most Wanted Fugitive’s List in April of 2008.

Police said Hernandez began celebrating the 1998 New Year’s party in Mecca with several friends.

Witnesses at the party said Hernandez had a fight early in the evening with a friend. During the fight, Hernandez suffered an injury to his top lip that required medical attention.

According to hospital records, Hernandez received stitches in his upper lip at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Indio. After receiving medial treatment, Hernandez returned to the party and attacked the victim with a knife, killing him.

Hernandez fled from the scene in a vehicle and was not located for the next 11 years.

In July 2009, Hernandez was arrested by Mexican law enforcement officials in Mexicali as the result of a spousal abuse incident, and it was discovered that Hernandez had an active murder arrest warrant in the Untied States.

Hernandez appealed his extradition to the United States in a Mexican court but was denied his appeal and approved for extradition last month.

Tuesday, United States Marshals transported Hernandez from Mexico City to Los Angeles International Airport where he was picked up by Riverside County District Attorney’s investigators and transported to the Indio jail where he was booked on the murder charge.