SANTA CRUZ—A Watsonville man was arrested Monday on suspicion of homicide in a 16-year-old case regarding the death of his stepdaughter, Dilcia Mejia, in Florida.
Raul Mata, 46, has been charged with first-degree murder, the Miami-Dade Police Department said. The Homicide Bureau, Cold Case Unit, along with MDPD Forensic Services Bureau, and in conjunction with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, made the arrest at Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz on Monday.
On Sept. 17, 2004, MDPD officers were dispatched to a Miami home regarding an unresponsive female. Officers contacted Mata, who directed them to the lifeless body of the 15-year-old girl. Dilcia had a laceration to her neck, which led the Medical Examiner’s office to rule the case a homicide.
At the time of the arrest Mata was an employee at Watsonville Community Hospital.
“We are aware of the case, and we are very concerned about his privacy and the privacy of his family,” said Dan Brothman, CEO of Halsen Healthcare, which owns Watsonville Community Hospital. “Everyone in America is innocent until proven guilty. If requested we will cooperate with law enforcement.”
Although no arrest was made at the time, investigators continued to develop the case. Investigators, working closely with the Forensic Services Bureau, used DNA taken from the victim’s body, which led to a positive match identifying Mata as the primary suspect in the case, MDPD said.
Investigators tracked Mata to Watsonville, and with the assistance of the Watsonville Police Department, he was taken into custody.
Mata is pending extradition to Miami-Dade County. He is being held in the Santa Cruz County Jail without bail.
“I am extremely proud of the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Cold Case Unit, for solving this case,” MDPD Director Alfredo Ramirez said. “Our Homicide Bureau takes great pride in being a voice for the voiceless, and offenders of unsolved homicide cases should never rest easy knowing they are on the case. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Watsonville Police Department for their collaboration in this case.”
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said the arrest “should offer hope, not just for [Dilcia] but for the families of all crime victims still yearning for justice.”
Reporter Todd Guild contributed to this story.
