Law enforcement on Tuesday found a 46-year-old man who had been on the run since July, when he was accused of shooting and killing a woman in a Magna home.
Agents with the United States Marshals Service arrested Gino James Cecala in Dallas, Texas, Unified Police Detective Chuck Malm said. As of 3 p.m., Malm said he was unsure of the circumstances surrounding Cecala’s arrest.
Cecala allegedly shot 25-year-old Paige Espinoza early in the morning on July 16 while she was at her boyfriend’s home at 8360 W. Mix Ave. (3410 South). She died from a gunshot wound to the head.
A white car was seen leaving the scene after Espinoza was shot.
Witnesses led police to the getaway car and its driver, Todd Elwin Hull, 46. Hull told police he’d driven Cecala to the Magna house. When they arrived, Hull said Cecala left the car and walked up to the house, according to documents filed in the 3rd District Court.
Todd Elwin Hull
Hull said he heard multiple shots, and then Cecala returned to the car. The two then drove to an empty lot in west Salt Lake County, where Hull said Cecala buried the gun.
Espinoza’s boyfriend said he’d had “problems” with Cecala, and that they’d fought about a week before the shooting. After the fight, Cecala purportedly threatened multiple times to kill both Espinoza and her boyfriend.
UPD asked the public for help to find Cecala in late November. Hull has been in the Salt Lake County jail since July 21. He was charged Aug. 1 with two counts of obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
Cecala is charged with first-degree felony counts of murder and felony discharge of a firearm, in addition to second-degree felony counts of obstructing justice and possession of a dangerous weapon. He also faces 13 third-degree felony discharge of a firearm charges.
