Man arrested in Texas for Downey killing

DOWNEY - A Downey man was arrested in El Paso, Tex., after he allegedly confessed to killing a woman here.Gary Anthony Chavez, 44, walked into the El Paso Police Department on Sunday and confessed to the killing, said Lt. Phil Rego of the Downey Police Department. Downey police officers found the body of Alvina Jimenez, a 31-year-old resident of South Gate, while performing a welfare check Saturday night at an apartment on the 8200 block of Telegraph Road. Authorities at the time called the death "suspicious in nature." Chavez allegedly traveled to El Paso and "advised the officers that he wanted to turn himself in for a murder he committed in Downey," Downey Police said in a statement. Downey detectives traveled to El Paso where they placed Chavez under arrest. Detectives are in the process of extraditing Chavez back to California where he will be formally charged with Jimenez's murder. Police did not disclose the relationship between Chavez and Jimenez. Authorities were waiting for the L.A. County Coroner to finish its investigation before revealing the cause of death. Anyone with information on the killing is asked to call Detective Steve Aubuchon at (562) 904-2361 or Detective Maria Villegas at (562) 904-2324. Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling (800) 222-TIPS, online at lacrimestoppers.org or by texting the letters TIPLA, plus your tip, to CRIMES. -Eric Pierce, city editor

********** Published: September 08, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 21