Man Accused Of Killing Wife In 1997 Arrested In El Salvador

SILVER SPRING, MD — A man accused of fatally shooting his wife at her Silver Spring apartment in 1997 was arrested in El Salvador this week, according to police.

Jose Mauricio Rivera, 58, was on the run for 27 years after Montgomery County police said he was charged with second-degree murder in connection with his wife's death.

Rivera was apprehended Thursday with the help of the FBI, El Salvador National Police and Interpol, and was later extradited to Montgomery County.

On October 9, 1997, police said Rivera confronted his wife in the elevator of her apartment building in the 8100 block of Eastern Avenue. The couple had recently separated following abuse allegations, and the victim had obtained a restraining order against Rivera.

Police said Rivera shot the woman multiple times before fleeing the country.

Interpol El Salvador initially located and arrested Rivera in April 2023 where he remained in custody.

Rivera was also charged with two counts of first-degree assault. He is being held at the Central Processing Unit pending a bond hearing.