Executive Summary
- Alberto Osorio Mendoza, 37, was arrested for a June 2021 murder in Cayce, South Carolina.
- The suspect allegedly used multiple aliases to evade capture for nearly four years.
- A tip to North Charleston Police led U.S. Marshals to Mendoza’s location.
- Mendoza is currently held without bond at the Lexington County Detention Center.
Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with a 2021 homicide in Cayce, South Carolina, following a multi-year investigation involving federal assistance. Cayce Police announced the apprehension of 37-year-old Alberto Osorio Mendoza, who faces murder charges stemming from a shooting incident at the Westwood Mobile Home Park nearly four years ago.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on June 14, 2021, on Groover Circle. Officers initially responded to a call regarding a suspicious vehicle and discovered a male victim slumped over the steering wheel, deceased from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators determined that Mendoza had been with the victim earlier that evening. Authorities state that a physical altercation took place between the two men, resulting in the victim sustaining fatal injuries and Mendoza fleeing the scene.
The investigation remained active for several years as Mendoza allegedly utilized multiple aliases to evade law enforcement. Police officials indicated that a breakthrough occurred on December 1, when a tip provided to the North Charleston Police Department identified Mendoza’s location. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted local authorities in tracking and arresting the suspect, who was reportedly operating under a false identity at the time of his capture. Jail records confirm that Mendoza was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on December 3 on a charge of murder. A judge has since denied his bond.
Investigative Outlook
The arrest underscores the critical role of inter-agency cooperation and public tips in resolving cold cases where suspects actively conceal their identities. By leveraging federal resources through the U.S. Marshals Service, local law enforcement agencies can effectively extend their reach across jurisdictions to locate fugitives using aliases. As the case moves to prosecution, the focus will likely shift to the evidentiary timeline established by investigators linking the specific 2021 altercation to the forensic evidence found at the scene. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
