Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man found behind a bus stop in Guadalupelast month, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
Roman Rubalcava, 36, was taken into custody Tuesday and booked into jail on one count of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing 65-year-old Amalio Castillo-Villareal, whose body was discovered on Sept. 11 by a patrol deputy near Avenida del Yaqui, just north of Calle Guadalupe.
Guadalupe, a small East Valley town bordered by Tempe and Phoenix’s Ahwatukee neighborhood, contracts MCSO for law enforcement services.
Detectives initially had few leads or physical evidence but continued to pursue the case until they identified Rubalcava as the suspect. Authorities did not release further details about what led to the arrest or the motive behind the killing.
“Even when the trail seems cold, our detectives never stop pursuing justice for victims and their families,” said Sheriff Jerry Sheridan. “Their commitment to finding answers and holding offenders accountable represents the very best of law enforcement service to our community.”
