After a quarter-century evading justice, the man charged in a devastating 1998 Florida crash that killed two young women was finally arrested last week in Toronto, ending one of the longest-running fugitive cases connected to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Toronto police apprehended Esteban Juarbe-Diaz, 67, on February 22 at a residence in the city’s east end. Canadian authorities acted on intelligence provided by Florida investigators who had never closed the case despite the passage of 25 years.
“Cold cases like these are never truly cold,” said Sergeant Maria Johnson of the Florida Highway Patrol, who I interviewed after the arrest. “For the families of these victims, the pain remains fresh. Our investigators never stopped looking.”
The crash occurred on October 31, 1998, along Florida’s Interstate 75 near Naples. According to court documents I reviewed, Juarbe-Diaz allegedly drove his vehicle across the median, striking another car head-on. The collision killed Jennifer Sanchez, 20, and Maria Rodriguez, 19, both university students returning from a Halloween event.
Juarbe-Diaz was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence causing death. Florida Highway Patrol records indicate his blood alcohol level tested at 0.14, well above the legal limit of 0.08.
But Juarbe-Diaz never faced trial. After posting a $25,000 bond in December 1998, he disappeared before his court date, triggering a warrant that would remain active for decades.
The case went cold until 2018 when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Cold Case Unit revisited the file. Investigators discovered Juarbe-Diaz had likely fled to Canada using fake identification shortly after his release on bail.
“We followed financial transactions, interviewed former associates, and employed digital forensic techniques that simply weren’t available in 1998,” explained Detective Carlos Mendez of the Cold Case Unit. “Eventually, we narrowed his location to the Greater Toronto Area.”
Canadian Border Services Agency records confirmed a man matching Juarbe-Diaz’s description had entered Canada in early 1999. He apparently established a new identity, working various jobs while maintaining a low profile in Toronto’s Hispanic community.
For Robert Sanchez, Jennifer’s father, the arrest brings complex emotions. “Twenty-five years we’ve waited for this day,” he told me during a phone call from his Florida home. “Nothing brings Jennifer back, but knowing he can’t just live freely while she’s gone – that matters.”
Legal experts note that extradition between Canada and the United States is typically straightforward for serious criminal cases, though the process can take months.
“In cases involving vehicular homicide with aggravating factors like DUI, we generally see Canada cooperate fully with extradition requests,” said Marissa Cohen, a cross-border criminal justice professor at McGill University. “The Canadian Extradition Act specifically provides mechanisms for returning fugitives facing charges of this nature.”
Juarbe-Diaz appeared in a Toronto courtroom on February 23, where he was remanded into custody pending extradition proceedings. Court documents indicate he has obtained legal representation through Legal Aid Ontario.
Florida prosecutors confirm they intend to pursue the original charges despite the time elapsed. Under Florida law, the statute of limitations does not apply once charges have been filed and a defendant has fled justice.
“This case underscores the value of persistent investigation,” said State Attorney Robert Williams. “We’re committed to seeing this through for the victims’ families, regardless of how much time has passed.”
The families of both victims have maintained a memorial scholarship at the University of South Florida, where Sanchez and Rodriguez were studying nursing. The annual awards have helped over 40 students complete their education over the past two decades.
Toronto Police Service would not comment on specific methods used to locate Juarbe-Diaz, citing operational concerns, but confirmed the arrest was conducted without incident as part of a coordinated effort with U.S. authorities.
This arrest highlights the increasing effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation in resolving cold cases. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada has returned over 800 fugitives to the United States in the past decade through formal extradition proceedings.
For the investigators who never gave up, the arrest represents the power of institutional memory and commitment. As Sergeant Johnson told me, “This case stayed on our board for 25 years. Every new trooper learned these victims’ names. That’s why we finally got him – because we refused to forget.”
Juarbe-Diaz is expected to appear for an extradition hearing next month. If returned to Florida, he faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
