A Nevada man has finally admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in a shocking act of jealousy that happened more than 15 years ago. The long-unsolved case came to an end after the accused was caught hiding in Mexico and brought back to face justice.
Man Pleads Guilty to 2008 Execution-Style Murder in Las Vegas
Jonathan Romero, now 35, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the July 2008 shooting death of 18-year-old David Manriquez in Las Vegas. His guilty plea came last week after years on the run, according to CBS affiliate KLAS.
Romero was finally indicted by a Clark County grand jury in June 2025, following emotional testimony from his ex-girlfriend—the key witness in the case.
Deadly Break-In Over a Love Rival
The terrifying incident happened when Romero showed up uninvited at his ex-girlfriend’s Las Vegas home—months after they had broken up. He forced the door open and ran upstairs, where he found Manriquez hiding in the closet of the master bedroom.
“[David] tries to stop him,” the woman testified. “And then [Romero] shot him in the back of his head.”
But the violence didn’t end there. A detective told the grand jury that Romero shot the teenager multiple times, then fled the scene.
“There was a blood trail that led from inside the house out the front door and down several blocks,” the detective said.
Romero Escaped Justice for Over 15 Years
Romero vanished after the murder, managing to avoid arrest for over 15 years. He was finally captured in Mexico in May 2025 and extradited back to the U.S. to face charges.
Originally, Romero pleaded not guilty to multiple serious charges, including:
- Murder with a deadly weapon
- Attempted murder with a deadly weapon
- Burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon
However, last week, he accepted a plea deal, admitting guilt to first-degree murder.
Family Speaks Out After Years of Pain
The victim’s family expressed a mix of shock, relief, and sorrow after Romero’s arrest and guilty plea.
“We just want him to pay for what he did to my son,” said Jaime Manriquez, David’s father.
His sister, Ruby Manriquez, said the family had long feared Romero would never be caught.
“He’s a coward,” she said. “We kind of were not ever expecting him to get caught. It was a shock… but he’ll get his justice here.”
Sentencing Set for March 2026
Romero is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for March 26, 2026. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he faces a prison term of 20 to 50 years, with credit for time already served.
The case has reminded many that even after years of hiding, justice can still be served—and for the Manriquez family, it’s a step toward closure in a tragedy they’ll never forget.
