LAS VEGAS, NV – In a breakthrough that has been long-awaited by the family of a slain Las Vegas woman, authorities have captured the man they believe is responsible for her death. Oswaldo Nathaniel Perez Sanchez, the prime suspect in the murder of 26-year-old Tabitha Tozzi in April 2023, was apprehended by Mexican authorities this week. His arrest ends a two-year international manhunt that has kept Tozzi’s family on edge.
Perez Sanchez was taken into custody in Sonora, Mexico, not for Tozzi’s murder but for allegedly killing another woman in the region. According to the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office, Perez Sanchez, who had been living under the alias “Jorge,” is accused of murdering a woman whose body was discovered in Guaymas earlier this month.
The pursuit of Perez Sanchez began in the United States when the FBI offered a $30,000 reward for information leading to his arrest following Tozzi’s murder. She was found shot in the head outside her home in northwest Las Vegas, a tragedy that left her family devastated and demanding answers.
Regina Luster, Tozzi’s mother, has been a vocal advocate for justice, organizing vigils and protests to keep her daughter’s case in the public eye. “I cannot rest until there’s justice for my daughter,” Luster said. The delay in naming Perez Sanchez as a suspect and releasing his photo was a point of contention for the family and the community.
In a twist that added to the frustration, videos surfaced on social media showing a man resembling Perez Sanchez enjoying nightlife in Fullerton, California, just six months ago. The images, which included his Instagram handle, indicated that he had been living openly despite being a wanted man.
Now held in Mexico, Perez Sanchez faces charges for the murder in Guaymas, while U.S. authorities continue to seek justice for Tozzi. The extradition process remains uncertain, leaving questions about when he might face charges in Nevada.
For Tozzi’s family, the arrest brings a mix of relief and continued sorrow. “I knew this day would come,” Luster shared in a recent statement. “I’m grateful for the support we’ve received, but my heart is still heavy.”
The case highlights the complexities of international law enforcement cooperation and the challenges families face in seeking justice across borders. As Perez Sanchez sits in a Mexican jail, the next steps remain unclear, but the silence of the past two years has finally been broken.