Suspect Arrested Near Mexican Border in Desert Hot Springs Woman's Murder

Aaron Espinoza, 29, of Desert Hot Springs was arrested at the Arizona-Mexico border while attempting to flee the state, two days after 30-year-old Los Angeles resident Brianna Chavez was found shot dead in a remote stretch of Coachella Valley desert. Desert Hot Springs police announced the arrest on Tuesday, March 17, with Espinoza now facing charges of murder, child endangerment, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is being held without bail in Arizona awaiting extradition.

The case began Sunday evening when officers responded to the intersection of Mission Creek and Worsley roads after a report of a possible death, arriving at approximately 5 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. They found Chavez dead in a largely open desert area in the northwestern part of Desert Hot Springs, just east of State Route 62. Detectives later determined she had been shot and killed around 1:30 p.m. that same day, roughly three to four hours before police arrived on scene, according to a statement from Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Steven Shaw. The motive remains unknown.

Espinoza, who has a prior felony conviction, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody in San Luis, Arizona, a small city just east of the Mexican city of Mexicali. Three agencies combined to make the arrest: the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, the San Luis Police Department, and the Riverside County District Attorney's Office Gang Impact team. The multi-agency coordination cut off his apparent attempt to cross into Mexico before he could make it across the border.

The child endangerment charge stands out among the counts filed. Neither Desert Hot Springs police nor any other agency has explained publicly what facts underlie that allegation, whether a child was present at the scene or endangered through some other circumstance connected to the shooting.

Anyone with information about the killing can contact Detective George Bailey at 760-668-5857. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.

Espinoza's extradition from Arizona back to California is expected, though no timeline for arraignment proceedings has been announced.