Man accused of killing woman in 2016 appears in court after fleeing to Mexico

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) – Nearly eight years have passed since the body of Lilia Cosco-Ortiz was discovered in a blueberry field in rural Dayton, Oregon. Now the man suspected in her death will face charges after fleeing to Mexico.

Victor Melcher-Villalba, 45, is expected to make his first court appearance in Yamhill County on Wednesday after he was successfully extradited from Durango, Mexico to face charges related to the woman’s murder.

An autopsy previously revealed 37-year-old Cosco-Ortiz had died of “homicidal violence.” A passerby discovered her body in the field on Oct. 2, 2016.

Melcher-Villalba’s car, a white 2003 Toyota Tacoma, was later found abandoned in Beaverton .

A search “led investigators to Oregon, Washington State, and California” before Melcher-Villalba was indicted on one count of murder in 2017. However, investigators soon discovered he had fled to Mexico.

Five years later, on July 11, 2022, Melcher-Villalba was taken into custody in Durango, Mexico for unrelated charges. After learning of his arrest, Yamhill investigators filed for his extradition.

Detectives previously told KOIN 6 that the two were in a relationship, and his actions were likely based on his suspicion that she was cheating on him.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.