More than a decade after a harrowing home invasion that resulted in the death of a Phoenix man, Augustine Valenzuela, a suspect has finally been apprehended. On Wednesday, Phoenix Police Department confirmed the arrest of 43-year-old Fernando Gaitan in connection with the 2014 incident which left Valenzuela fatally stabbed and his family terrorized at gunpoint, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. Gaitan now faces charges that include murder, burglary, aggravated assault, and kidnapping.
Gaitan's capture, with his bond set at $1.7 million according to jail records, marks a significant break in the cold case that seemed destined to quietly dissolve into the shadowy recesses of Phoenix's unsolved crimes. It took years of investigation before detectives were able to conclusively link him to the crime through DNA evidence. The Phoenix Police Department expressed relief following the arrest, stating, "after more than a decade, a family is one step closer to justice," in a statement obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix.
The incident in question took place near 41st and Maryland avenues. Although Valenzuela's wife and stepsons were held at gunpoint during the invasion, they survived the ordeal. Unfortunately, Valenzuela succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed and passed away in a nearby hospital. Following the initial investigation, police sought three suspects, but leads in the case became scarce, and the trail went cold, as detailed by KTAR News.
Revitalized efforts by cold case detectives to thoroughly re-examine the evidence paid off when they managed to unearth a DNA connection to Gaitan. Phoenix's Street Crimes and Fugitive Apprehension Investigation units located and promptly took Gaitan into custody. No further arrests have been reported in connection with the case. The Valenzuela family's long wait for a semblance of closure might soon be over, with the legal proceedings set to continue against the accused.
