Exactly 20 years to the day after the brutal killing of 15-year-old Elena Lasswell, Phoenix Police Department detectives have arrested 37-year-old Sergio Reyes. Reyes was extradited from Mexico on Wednesday and booked into Maricopa County Jail for several violent felony charges.
Just after 8:00 p.m. on Saturday July 10, 2004, Phoenix police officers responded to a house in the neighborhood of 2700 North 21st Drive. Officers and Phoenix fire personnel were directed to a room where they found victim Lasswell. Emergency lifesaving measures were attempted but Lasswell did not survive her injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene. Patrol officers were able to contact several witnesses and then turned the case over to homicide detectives.
Detectives took over the investigation and developed leads with no direct information as to who killed Lasswell. Detectives, not having any suspects, presented the case to Silent Witness asking for community support in identifying a suspect.
Investigators ran out of leads causing the case to go cold. In 2012 Cold Case Detectives used DNA collection techniques and were able to identify a profile that matched Sergio Reyes. In March of 2013, DNA evidence was processed and confirmed Reyes as the lead suspect. In 2014 Maricopa County Grand Jury indicted Reyes who was living in Mexico at the time. This prompted the start of the extradition process. With extensive help from U.S. Marshals Service authorities were able to locate and arrest Reyes for the brutal sexual attack and murder of Lasswell.
On July 10, 2024, exactly 20 years after the horrific murder of then 15-year-old Elena Lasswell, detectives with the Phoenix Police Departments cold case unit have arrested and booked 37-year-old Sergio Reyes for multiple violent felonies to include sexual assault and 1st Degree murder.
