Justice Elusive for I'riana DeJesus 10-Years Later
DNA match identifies suspect, but he's hiding out in Honduras, sources say
NBC Philadelphia - Denise Nakano
Lizasuain DeJesus wants the man who raped and murdered her daughter to pay for what he took from her.
A march through the neighborhood of Hunting Park marks a decade since 5-year old I’riana DeJesus was raped and murdered. Her killer remains a free man.
"It’s sad, it’s sad that’s she’s gone," the girl's mother Lizasuain DeJesus said -- speaking through tears.
She says her heart breaks every time she thinks about what happened to her daughter on this day 10-years ago.
"She was an innocent kid," the mother said. "Why would someone want to murder her? She didn’t do nothing to nobody. It’s a shame it had to be my daughter."
Police and the FBI are searching for the little girl’s accused killer Alexis Flores.
He’s believed to be in hiding in his native Honduras and sources say recent information reveals he’s getting plenty of help from his family.
Flores was linked to I’riana’s murder after he was arrested in Phoenix on forgery charges in 2004.
A DNA match to I’riana’s murder came several years late and by that time Flores had already been deported.
"Now we have a DNA match. Now we have a name, now we have a face. You can run but you can never hide," Lizasuain said.
I’riana’s body was discovered inside a building at 6th and Pike Streets only a couple blocks from where she lived.
Just two weeks ago, a childcare center opened-up in its place giving new life to what had become a painful reminder of I’riana’s murder. The daycare is now named after the little girl.
"I knew that there was no way I could open up something like a childcare center or a preschool and not give back to I’riana," daycare owner Domonique Prince said. "What happed was just tragic."
Lizasuain says she’s glad to see her neighborhood moving forward and standing behind her -- never giving up hope that one day her daughter’s killer will be caught.
"People say let it go, let it rest. I just can’t rest until I know he’s been caught. I have a problem with that," Lizasuain said. "I want my justice and I believe that I deserve that."
Alexis Flores is on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Posted Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 11:26 PM EST
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