GREELEY, Colo.—A former Greeley man was arrested in Las Vegas Thursday on suspicion of murder in the death of his estranged wife in Greeley 14 years ago.
John Sandoval, 44, faces one count of first-degree murder in the death of Kristina Sandoval, who had filed for divorce before she disappeared in October 1995. Her body has never been found.
Las Vegas Police Sgt. Dave Stansbury said Sandoval was arrested outside his home on a warrant issued after recent re-interviews with witnesses. Sandoval had been living in the city for about 10 years and working in a Sam’s Club.
Stansbury said authorities in Greeley think Sandoval killed his wife and buried the body.
Greeley police have continued to investigate the case and a warrant for his arrest was signed by a judge on June 10.
Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said there were no breakthroughs but said the likely defense in such cases—that a missing person has decided to move and not tell anyone—becomes less plausible over time. After discussing the case with Kristina Sandoval’s family, he said he decided to move ahead with the case now even though double jeopardy protections would bar prosecutors from trying Sandoval again should new evidence surface later.
“We decided that this cold case should be brought and help the family reach closure if we could,” Buck told The Associated Press.
According to Weld County prosecutors, Kristina Sandoval was reported missing on Oct. 19, 1995. Her mother told police that she was worried because of a meeting her daughter planned to have with Sandoval earlier that day. Kristina Sandoval had planned to call her sister after the meeting but was not seen or heard from afterward, according to police reports.
A death certificate was issued for her on Feb. 12, 2002.
Sandoval will be held in the Clark County jail pending extradition to Colorado.
