Chicago's Most Wanted: Luis Rodriguez Mena - KMSP-TV

Chicago's Most Wanted: Luis Rodriguez Mena

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This murder happened more than 13 years ago in Des Plaines… a young woman coming home from work surprised by an attacker who then disappeared without a trace. Since then detectives have zeroed in on a suspect, but hasn't been able to track him down.

The victim was Young Kavila, a United Flight airlines attendant.

On November 30, 1999 she came home from work to her home in DesPlaines.

The FBI says she was surprised by a man who attacked her with knife and sexually assaulted and then killed her.

Special Agent Ross Rice says a woman contacted Des Plaines police in 2007, and said she knew who the killer was.

She identified the man as Luis Rodriguez Mena.

The tip came from Mena's sister. She said Mena had bragged about killing Kavila after he had fled to Mexico. He also had deep gashes on his chest and walked with a limp from a deep cut to his him.

She said he threatened to kill anyone of his family who turned him in. Rice says after apparently one too many violent outbursts against the family, the sister contacted police.

He says there was DNA and fingerprints left behind. The detective assigned to the case then found Mena's old girlfriend, who described how Mena said they had to leave immediately for Mexico with their son.

A DNA swab of the son revealed that the DNA gathered from the scene was indeed a relative of the boy.

Once police identified their suspect as Luis Mena they were also able to match a fingerprint from the scene to one on file for Mena with Mexican authorities from a previous arrest.

In 2008 the FBI obtained a warrant for Mena's arrest for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. In coordination with Mexican police, they planned an arrest at his last known address in Mexico, but Mena was not there.

The FBI believes he may have been spotted in the Des Plains area by Mena's ex-girlfriend, who is convinced she saw him watching their son play in a ball game just last year. So there's reason to believe he could be back in the Chicago area.

Here is a description of Luis Rodriguez Mena:

  • He is Hispanic.
  • 38 years old.
  • 5'7'', 160 pounds.
  • Black hair and brown eyes.
  • He has a tattoo on his hand as well as scars on his chest and hip.

He is considered armed and dangerous. If you know where Mena might be, you're asked to call police.

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