15-year-old assaulted and killed, cops say. Man arrested 20 years later ‘to the day’

A 37-year-old man was arrested 20 years ‘to the day’ after the murder of a teen in Arizona, officials said.

Sergio Reyes is accused of sexually assaulting Elena Lasswell in 2004, according to a news release by police.

On July 10, 2004, Phoenix officers responded to a house where they eventually found the 15-year-old, officials said.

First responders attempted life-saving measures, but Lasswell was pronounced dead, officials said.

Officers didn’t specify on how Lasswell died or if Reyes knew her.

The case eventually went cold until 2012 when detectives used DNA and were able to make a profile that matched Reyes, officials said.

In 2013, DNA confirmed Reyes as the lead suspect, officers said.

In 2014, Reyes, who was living in Mexico, was indicted and the lengthy extradition process started, officials said.

The U.S. Marshals Service located Reyes and he was arrested on July 10, 2024, for multiple felonies including sexual assault and murder, officers said.

This story was originally published July 11, 2024 at 2:09 PM with the headline "15-year-old assaulted and killed, cops say. Man arrested 20 years later ‘to the day’."