Newton Detectives Crack 27-Year-Old Murder Case By Looking North

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Abel Avila, a fugitive wanted for a 1985 love-triangle murder in Los Angeles, was arrested Tuesday after being found in a place police never thought to look before -- up north.

Avila, who avoided capture for almost three decades, was found living under a fake identity in Northern California.

Amanda Burden, reporting for KCAL9 and CBS2, said detectives at the Newton station tried everything to crack this case. And each time ... frustration. This week, they decided to expand their search.

Los Angeles police arrested Abel Avila Tuesday after officers found him hiding out in San Jose, Calif., living under an alias and carrying a fake driver's license.

Lt. Lillian Carranza said the arrest was a long time coming but better late than never. "It's only a matter of time before the long arm of the law reaches out and grabs you."

Avila is accused of killing his sister's boyfriend Arnulfo Medina in 1985. Medina was having an affair with another married relative of Avila's.

Police say Avila, who was 30 at the time, confronted Medina, pulled a gun and shot him. Says Carranza, "Ever since then, we've been looking for Abel Avila."

Carranza says, "Mr. Avila had no problem integrating himself into society and for 27 years living the life of any other citizen."

Avila has been booked for investigation of murder.

Investigators are still working to inform the victim's family about the arrest.

Burden reports, "one of the lead detectives on the case wasn't even born when the murder took place."