Gregorio Zavala, who was charged by local authorities with first-degree murder in Las Cruces in 1994, has been returned to the United States from Mexico.

Zavala, 43, was taken into custody by Mexican law enforcement in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, on Wednesday.

The FBI, which filed a federal arrest warrant for Zavala for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution in 1995, assisted Mexican authorities with returning him to the United States.

Zavala was expected to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in El Paso, Texas, today, September 14, 2018.

It is anticipated Zavala eventually will be turned over to local authorities.

Questions about Zavala’s murder charge should be directed to the Las Cruces Police Department or Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.