A GoFundMe comment led investigators to solve a 2017 cold case after a tip from a stranger helped track down a murder suspect who had fled to Mexico.
25-year-old Evin Paulos was killed in June 2017 after being stabbed 30 times by his friend, Michael Anthony Arredondo, during an argument while the two were traveling together.
Police said the argument escalated when both men exited the vehicle, and Arredondo reportedly attacked Paulos before fleeing the scene. Paulos was found dead on June 3, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona. Investigators learned that Arredondo fled to California and later to Mexico, where he had been living under the radar for several years.
Family’s GoFundMe Page Leads to Unexpected Break in the Case
For years, Paulos’ family had been searching for answers—until a GoFundMe page created to honor Evin’s memory became the key to solving the case.
According to PEOPLE, investigators were able to track Arredondo after a stranger in Mexico left a comment under the family’s GoFundMe page. The comment included details about Arredondo’s alleged location and appearance.
At first, the family thought the message was a scam or a cruel internet hoax. But Evin’s sister, Evien Paulos, decided to reach out to verify the claim. “I told him, ‘Please, I don’t know if this is a scam or not. Can you send me some kind of evidence? Send me a picture?’” she said during a press conference with the Phoenix Police Department.
The stranger provided a photo confirming Arredondo’s identity, which allowed authorities to verify his whereabouts and begin coordination with Mexican law enforcement.
The lead turned out to be real—and within weeks, authorities had located Arredondo in Mexico.
RELATED STORIES: ICYMI: ‘Brick lady’ Surrendered Amidst Scandal Of Fraudulent GoFundMe Campaign
Suspect Arrested and Extradited to the United States
Once the tip was confirmed, police launched an international effort to bring Michael Anthony Arredondo into custody. He was eventually arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States earlier this year.
Arredondo is now facing charges of first-degree murder and second-degree murder. Authorities said he is being held in Arizona on a $1.5 million bond.
During the press conference, Phoenix police thanked the Paulos family for their persistence and credited the anonymous tipster for helping solve the case after seven long years.