Man accused of 1999 stabbing death of flight attendant in suburban Chicago faces murder charges
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Man accused of 1999 stabbing death of flight attendant in suburban Chicago faces murder charges
A man accused in the 1999 stabbing death of a flight attendant in suburban Chicago has been returned to the U.S. from Mexico to face murder charges, police said Thursday.
CHICAGO - A man accused in the 1999 stabbing death of a flight attendant in suburban Chicago has been returned to the U.S. from Mexico to face murder charges, police said Thursday.
Luis Rodriguez-Mena, 46, was arrested in Mexico during the summer and was turned over to the Des Plaines Police Department on Tuesday, according to Police Chief William Kushner. Rodriguez-Mena is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 30-year-old Young Kavila.
After 21 years, man extradited from Mexico to face charges in 1999 killing of flight attendant in Des Plaines chicagotribune.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chicagotribune.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
UpdatedFri, Dec 11, 2020 at 9:06 am CT
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Young Kavila, 30, was fatally stabbed on Nov. 30, 1999, in her apartment in Des Plaines. (via Des Plaines Police Department)
DES PLAINES, IL More than 21 years after the fatal stabbing of a United Airlines flight attendant in her Des Plaines apartment, the man accused of killing her appeared in court Thursday for the first time since he was extradited from Mexico.
Young Kavila, 30, was found by her roommate lying dead on the floor of her kitchen on Nov. 30, 1999. She had been repeatedly stabbed and beaten after a struggle, drawing blood from her attacker, authorities said.
Within 12 hours, prosecutors said her killer had hopped on a bus to Mexico with a large, untreated gash across his chest, arriving about two days later.
Authorities said she tried to fight off her attacker, but he slashed her throat with a boot knife, sexually assaulted her and left - but not before wiping his hands on her bed covers.
A short time later, Kavila s roommate found her beaten and stabbed to death on the floor of their kitchen, prosecutors said.
On Thursday, more than 20 years later, authorities revealed they arrested Kavila s then-neighbor, Luis Rodriguez Mena, in the case. The big break was some people in his family cooperated with our investigation and gave us his whereabouts, Officer Michael Heidcamp with the Des Plaines Police Department said.
Suspect in 1999 Des Plaines slaying captured in Mexico, brought back to U S for trial dailyherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.