Almost three months after the tragic stabbing in East Palo Alto that left Frank Finney dead, the East Palo Alto Police Department finally netted the alleged culprit, thanks to community help, according to a press release from the department. 19-year-old Ernesto Alexis Mora Samayoa, already sitting in San Mateo County Jail for another offense, now faces charges for Finney’s murder.

Finney passed away on March 2 after battling for his life since the February 8 attack. The police worked relentlessly as the assailant remained at large, and the community was calling for justice, while Mothers Against Murder put up a $10,000 reward to grease the wheels. The breakthrough came from vital information from witnesses and diligent forensic work by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and San Mateo County Forensics Laboratory.

The initial incident saw law enforcement descend on the corner of University Ave. and Bell St., discovering two stabbed men, one of which was Finney, who incurred critical injuries that ultimately claimed his life. A description of the suspect surfaced early on: a Hispanic male with a mustache, seen last in a dark hooded sweatshirt, evading capture in the immediate aftermath of the stabbing.

The East Palo Alto Police didn’t ease up on their hunt for the attacker, continuously seeking the public's assistance and asking for any witnesses or surveillance footage from the night of the crime. The breakthrough finally came, with the day's thanks going to public tipsters and the boundless efforts of the forensics team and district prosecutors who pieced together the puzzle leading to Samayoa's arrest.

In their statement, the East Palo Alto Police urged anyone with further insights into the murder of Frank Finney to step forward, offering various anonymous methods for providing information.