Worcester detectives left town this week and came back with the news many in the city have been waiting on. A suspect in the 2022 killing of local teenager Jazmin Rosario is now in custody, after authorities say 23-year-old Jayden Montes was arrested in the Tampa area Wednesday morning without incident.
How the arrest unfolded in Tampa
According to the Worcester Police Department (Official), Detective Sergeant William Pero and Detective Jay Magarian, both from the department's Unresolved Homicide Unit, flew to Tampa on July 1 to help track down and arrest Montes. The department said the pair worked on the ground with partner agencies as part of a coordinated operation that led to the midweek takedown.
Charges and immediate details
Investigators, together with the Worcester District Attorney's Office, developed probable cause and secured an arrest warrant charging Montes with the murder of 17-year-old Jazmin Rosario, Boston 25 News reported. Authorities said he was taken into custody shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday, without incident. Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier called the arrest an important step toward justice for Rosario and her family.
Background on Rosario's death
Rosario was shot and killed in January 2022 in the parking lot of the Big Y supermarket on Mayfield Street, just days before her 18th birthday, according to Gun Memorial. The killing left a deep mark on the neighborhood, and the case remained open for more than four years as detectives continued to chase down leads.
Task force and partner agencies
The Worcester police announcement said Montes was ultimately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Central Florida/Caribbean Task Force. That group includes the U.S. Marshals Service along with local partners such as the Pinellas County and Pasco County sheriff's offices, Tampa Police, and St. Petersburg Police. Worcester police said the arrest was completed without incident and that their detectives are now working with prosecutors on the next steps in the case.
Legal process ahead
An arrest warrant charging Montes with murder has been issued, but officials have not yet released details about when he will be extradited to Massachusetts or arraigned in court, according to Boston 25 News. The Worcester Police Department and the District Attorney's Office are expected to provide more information as the case moves forward through the legal system.
How to reach investigators
The Worcester Police Department said its Unresolved Homicide Unit will keep working the case and again asked anyone with information to contact the Detective Bureau. Phone numbers, online reporting options, and additional contact details are available on the City of Worcester Police site.
