Man arrested for 1985 homicide of ex-wife in Daly City

( KRON ) – A man accused of killing his ex-wife nearly 40 years ago in Daly City has been arrested, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

The defendant, 78-year-old Rafael Antonio Martinez, made his first court appearance in the killing of his ex-wife Ana Martinez on Sept. 13.

Ana was found dead in a car in the garage of the house she shared with her ex-husband on March 12, 1985.

Authorities said Ana was shot four times in the left side of the head and neck, according to the autopsy. Her positioning and gunshot wounds suggest that the assailant was in the driver’s seat and her in the passenger’s seat when she was shot, said authorities.

Rafael reportedly called a friend to confess to shooting his ex-wife and that he was uncertain if she was alive. He left the city the same day, not even returning to pick up his final check, and traveled to Los Angeles.

The District Attorney’s Office said Rafael was in LA for approximately four days, then fled to Mexico and then ultimately settled in El Salvador.

Rafael was found and arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization and the U.S. State Department in El Salvador.

He is currently being held without bail and is set to appear in court on Sept. 20.

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