Police Arrest Methuen Murder Suspect in California

One of the state’s most wanted men—a 33-year-old who allegedly killed a Methuen woman in front of their young son last year—was arrested Wednesday in Patterson, Calif.

Emilio DeLarosa, 33, a murder suspect on the Mass. State Police Most Wanted List, was captured nearly a year to the day after he allegedly killed Wanda Rosa, 29, who had taken out a restraining order against him. in front of their young son.

DeLarosa is said to have strangled Rosa Sept. 12, 2016, inside her home as the four-year-old boy pleaded with him not to hurt her, State Police said in a statement.

This past weekend, State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section and the Stanislaus County, Calif., Sheriff’s Department determined DeLarosa was living and working under an alias in Patterson. VFAS Troopers worked with Stanislaus deputy sheriffs and deputy United States marshals from the Boston and Fresno Field Offices to confirm the information.

He was arrested at 6:21 a.m., Pacific time, when deputy sheriffs and marshals stopped DeLarosa in a vehicle after he left a residence. He was charged with being a fugitive from justice. The Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section confirmed, through fingerprints, his identity.

DeLarosa is being held at the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. The murder case is being prosecuted by the Essex County District Attorney’s office, which is arranging his return to Massachusetts.