The Gainesville Police Department along with assistance from the El Paso County, Texas Sheriff’s Office and the Mexican Police has arrested a murder suspect on an outstanding warrant from 1997...
The Gainesville Police Department along with assistance from the El Paso County, Texas Sheriff’s Office and the Mexican Police has arrested a murder suspect on an outstanding warrant from 1997.
The subject is identified as Juan Bayona, 29 years old, of Gainesville, Ga. The warrant was issued in February 1997 for Bayona’s role in the shooting death of Rigo Verto Verbuzco, 20 years old, of Pendergrass, Ga. The murder occurred in front of the Burger King Restaurant located at 806 Athens St. on February 16, 1997 at 5:16 p.m.
Bayona was taken into custody by Mexican authorities after they had responded to his home in Durango, Mexico, regarding a fight in which Bayona was involved. After checking Bayona for warrants, he returned with the active murder warrant out of Gainesville, Ga. Bayona was taken into custody without incident by the Mexican Authorities on January 21, 2008 and transported to El Paso Texas, where he was released into the custody of the El Paso County Sherriff’s Office on January 23, 2008. Bayona was transported to Gainesville, Ga. on February, 5, 2008 and released into the custody of the Gainesville Police. Bayona was then transported to the Hall County Detention Center for booking.
Gainesville Police are still searching for the second suspect involved in the murder. He is identified as Arturo Elizalde; currently 30 years old of Gainesville, Ga. (Wanted Poster Attached) Gainesville Police have an active warrant for Elizade for the crime of murder.
The incident is still under investigation by members of the Gainesville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Gainesville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 770-534-5254 or the Hall County Central Communications Center at 770-534-5251.