Exactly 23 years to the day after local Maria Vargas’ body was found strangled to death inside a Logan Heights residence, homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in finding Vargas’ killer.
On March 17, 1990, San Diego Police Department officers responded to reports of a death at a home in the 2900 block of National Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Vargas’ lifeless body in the bedroom of her boyfriend, Pedro Antonio Guzman.
Detectives say Vargas had been strangled to death. Guzman had fled the scene before police could question or detain him.
Since that St. Patrick’s Day murder more than two decades ago, police have been after Guzman, who’s suspected of allegedly killing Vargas.
Detectives say it is likely Guzman, who's now 49 years old, fled to Mexico following the murder.
He's described as a 5-foot to 5-foot-3 Hispanic male weighing approximately 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Guzman was 26 at the time of Vargas' murder.
On Friday, the SDPD released a photo of Guzman in hopes of locating him and reopening the case. Detectives are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Up to a $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of Guzman, and tipsters may remain anonymous.
