Skip to content
Advertisement

Former fugitive to be arraigned on charges of murdering his girlfriend

Advertisement
Jesus Humberto Canales (47661)
Jesus Humberto Canales

LANCASTER, Calif. — A man charged with killing his 26-year-old girlfriend with a sword in front of her four children in 2008 was scheduled to make his first court appearance this afternoon in Lancaster.

Jesus Humberto “Chuey” Canales, 34, faces one count of murder, which includes a special allegation that he personally used a deadly weapon — a sword, and four counts of child abuse.

The defendant was featured on “America’s Most Wanted: America Fights Back,” but managed to elude capture until last week. The Salvadoran native was found living in Jalisco, Mexico, and turned over to U.S. marshals by Mexican authorities last Thursday.

Lucy Preciado was fatally stabbed in her Quartz Hill apartment around 2 a.m. on July 12, 2008. Her daughter Marina, then 9 years old, called 911 to plead for help for her mother.

Canales, who’s being held in lieu of $1.4 million bail, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in state prison if convicted.

Advertisement

Latest