Man arrested for murder in 1992 cold case

Published October 18, 2014 5:03pm ET



ARVIN, Calif. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of murder in the death of a farmworker who was kidnapped from his Central California home more than two decades ago.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Saturday (http://bit.ly/ZyUiZs) that 49-year-old Gabino Mondragon Morales was arrested at his home in Arizona last week.

Authorities say he killed 25-year-old Fidelmar Meza Garcia, who was kidnapped on Jan. 11, 1992 in Arvin, a small town near Bakersfield.

Garcia’s body was found the next day in a remote area about 20 miles east of Barstow.

Morales was transferred to San Bernardino County and booked Friday on $1 million in bail.

Garcia had been working in the fruit fields in Arvin and sending money home to his wife and child in Mexico when he was killed.