Grandmother’s Relentless Hunt Helps U.S. Marshals Capture Daughter’s Accused Killer After Years of Manhunt

SAN DIEGO — After nearly six years of unanswered questions, tireless searching and countless false leads, a grandmother’s relentless efforts have helped bring a suspected murderer to justice. Josephine Wentzel, a retired police detective and grandmother, never stopped pursuing the man authorities believe was responsible for the killing of her daughter, Krystal Mitchell, in June 2016. Her determination became a driving force in an international manhunt that ended with the suspect’s arrest in El Salvador, law enforcement officials confirmed.

Mitchell, a 30-year-old mother of two from Phoenix, Arizona, was found beaten and strangled inside a San Diego apartment shortly after arriving in the city on a weekend trip with her then-boyfriend, Raymond “RJ” McLeod, a former U.S. Marine. He was the last person seen with her before her body was discovered, prompting a homicide investigation that quickly turned cold as McLeod vanished from sight.

Initially believed to have fled to Mexico, McLeod evaded capture for years — with reported sightings in Guatemala and Belize — frustrating investigators and family alike. Despite his inclusion on the U.S. Marshals Service’s 15 Most Wanted list, leads dried up and the case seemed stalled.

But Wentzel refused to let her daughter’s memory fade. Using her law enforcement experience and newly acquired social media skills, she circulated wanted posters, monitored online tips and reached out through Facebook and WhatsApp networks across Central America. Her persistence eventually generated crucial information that led authorities to McLeod’s location at an English language school near Sonsonate, El Salvador. A tipster recognized him and shared the information with U.S. Marshals, resulting in his arrest in August 2022.

After McLeod’s extradition to the United States, he was arraigned in San Diego Superior Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Prosecutors are preparing for trial, and Wentzel — who has been raising her daughter’s two young children since Mitchell’s death — has vowed to remain involved through the legal process.

“This isn’t just about closure,” Wentzel told reporters. “It’s about justice for my daughter and safety for other families.” Her advocacy has also inspired others dealing with unsolved homicides, and she has since established contacts to help other grieving relatives navigate long investigations.

Officials say the case highlights not only the challenges of international fugitive hunts but also the powerful impact of citizens working alongside law enforcement to keep cases alive until justice is served.