Hillsboro Police Detectives Arrest Murder Suspect

Police make an arrest in the Juanita Rosales-Garcia missing person case.

37-year old Delfino Hurtado-Navarette of Hillsboro Photo: Hillsboro Police

(HILLSBORO, Ore.) - Hillsboro Police Detectives arrested 37-year old Delfino Hurtado-Navarette of Hillsboro for the murder of his live-in girlfriend, 40-year old Juanita Rosales-Garcia, also of Hillsboro.

40-year old Juanita Rosales-Garcia

Police say it began as a missing person case on March 10, 2009 when Hurtado-Navarette reported Ms. Rosales-Garcia missing from their home in Hillsboro. Hillsboro Police detectives launched a missing person investigation.

On April 1, 2009, Hillsboro Police patrol officers discovered Rosales-Garcia's Chevrolet Blazer abandoned in the parking lot at 1050 SW Baseline Street in Hillsboro and it was seized as evidence.

On April 3, 2009 at 7:00 a.m. Oregon State Police Trooper Luke Schwartz discovered a body in a wooded area near Moreland Rd and Dorland Rd near North Plains in Washington County.

While this female body discovered has not been positively identified, investigators believe it is likely that of Ms. Rosales-Garcia. This development caused the activation of the Washington County Major Crimes Team.

Also on April 3, 2009, Hillsboro Police detectives continued their investigation and interviewed Hurtado-Navarette whereby he confessed to the murder of Rosales-Garcia. He was arrested and lodged in the Washington County Jail on 1 count of Murder.

Investigators believe this incident stemmed from relationship discord and the fact that Ms. Rosales-Garcia was planning to leave Mr. Hurtado-Navarette. Investigators believe the suspect in this case beat and stabbed the victim to death during an argument over her departure from the relationship.

This investigation continues by the Washington County Major Crimes Team and Hillsboro Police Detectives.