Key Highlights
- A suspect in a 2017 deadly stabbing case was arrested after eight years, thanks to an online tip.
- The GoFundMe campaign raised awareness and helped identify the suspect’s whereabouts.
- Mexican authorities worked with U.S. agencies to extradite the suspect back to the United States for trial.
- The arrest brings closure to Evin Paulos’ family, who had long sought justice.
Background and Discovery of the Tip
The case involving 34-year-old Michael Anthony Arredondo and 25-year-old Evin Paulos has been a cold one for eight years. On June 3, 2017, Evin Paulos was found dead near Pinnacle Peak and Cave Creek Road in Phoenix, Arizona. The alleged murder occurred after an altercation between the two men that began inside their vehicle before escalating outside.
Arredondo reportedly stabbed Paulos over 30 times. According to Detective Dominick Roestenberg of the Phoenix Police Department, “We learned shortly after the incident that he fled to California, spent a short time there and eventually fled to Mexico, where he’s been staying for the last eight years.” This information had put the case on hold until an unexpected turn of events.
Community Effort and the GoFundMe Campaign
In 2025, a Mexican citizen who recognized Arredondo through a GoFundMe campaign reached out to Paulos’ sister, Eviein. “I told him, please, I don’t know if this is a scam or not. Can you send me some kind of evidence,” she recalled. The response was immediate and conclusive: “And it was him.
He was just living life for eight years.”
The GoFundMe campaign had raised awareness about the case and allowed potential informants to come forward without fear of direct confrontation. This tip, combined with the determination of Paulos’ family and community support, played a crucial role in solving the cold case.
Arrest and Extradition
Working together, Mexican authorities and U.S. agencies including the United States Marshal’s Service and Maricopa County Attorney’s Office coordinated to locate and extradite Arredondo back to the United States. “It sends a strong message out to the community that even with the passage of time, we’re still looking for you,” Detective Roestenberg stated during a press conference. Arredondo was arrested on murder charges and is being held on a $1.5 million bond. His admission to stabbing Paulos adds another layer to an already tragic story: “There had to be some rage involved,” the detective explained, “He wasn’t really able to explain why.”
Impact on the Family and Community
For Eviein, the arrest brings a sense of closure after years of uncertainty.
She wears her brother’s ring with a necklace that has his name and picture: “It hasn’t been happy for a very long time, and this is something that’s very good for us,” she said. While the why remains unanswered, the who and where are now known. The case serves as an example of how community support and technological advancements can help solve cold cases. Eviein’s story also highlights the resilience and strength found in families during their darkest times.
