Granger man awaits extradition to Maryland in 2005 homicide

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A Granger man is awaiting extradition in connection with a 2005 homicide in Maryland.

Alvaro Ramirez, 29, and another man are accused of killing their former employer in West Friendship, Md.

Authorities in Yakima arrested Ramirez on Monday at his home. He had apparently been living in Granger for about two years and was unaware of the arrest warrant, which had been issued recently by Howard County, Md., police.

Ramirez and the other man — Joel Nunez Valles, 36 — are suspected in the death of Juan Miguel Gonzalez, 51, who was killed at his home in October 2005, according to a Howard County Police Department news release

If Ramirez waives extradition proceedings, he will return to Howard County within the next two weeks. If he doesn’t, Howard County authorities plan to obtain a governor’s warrant for his extradition, which could take another week or so, authorities say.

Valles fled to Mexico shortly after the homicide and was held at a jail for an unrelated crime when he was extradited last month, authorities say.

Gonzalez died as from stab wounds and blunt force trauma, authorities said.

— Melissa Sánchez

This story has been updated to correct errors about the homicide victim and where Ramirez was arrested.