Woman found dead in blueberry field in 2016. Man accused of fleeing US faces charges

A man accused of fleeing the U.S. following a 2016 murder is now facing charges in court, Oregon officials said.

The body of 37-year-old Lilia Cosco-Ortiz was found in a blueberry field in a rural area of Dayton on Oct 2, 2016, according to a July 17 news release by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.

After investigating, police determined her manner of death to be homicide, officials said.

In 2017, Victor Melcher-Villalba, 45, was indicted on a murder charge, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, officers said.

Later, officers learned Melcher-Villalba had fled to Mexico, officials said.

In July 2022, Melcher-Villalba was arrested in Durango, Mexico, on unrelated charges, officials said.

Then, with the help of the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the extradition process began to bring Melcher-Villalba back to Oregon to face murder charges, officials said.

On July 17, Melcher-Villalba made his first court appearance, officers said.

McClatchy News was unable to find attorney information for Melcher-Villalba.

Yamhill County is about a 50-mile drive southwest of Portland.

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