Arizona Man Arrested in Mississippi for Tolleson Homicide

Randal Basilio Santillan to be extradited to Arizona on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 10:23pm

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A 27-year-old Arizona man, Randal Basilio Santillan, has been arrested in Mississippi and will be extradited to Arizona in connection with the homicide of 18-year-old Yessenia Gabriella Norman in Tolleson. Norman was found dead in an apartment leased to Santillan, and police say the two met on a social media dating site before her disappearance and murder.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of online dating and the need for increased safety measures, as well as the importance of thorough police investigations to apprehend suspects who attempt to flee the state. The extradition of Santillan from Mississippi to Arizona will allow authorities to bring him to justice for the alleged crimes.

The details

According to police, officers responded to an apartment complex in Tolleson on January 28th and found Yessenia Gabriella Norman dead from apparent stab wounds inside a unit leased to Randal Basilio Santillan. Investigators determined that Norman had met Santillan on a social media dating site and left her apartment to meet him on January 15th, but never returned. Santillan then allegedly fled Arizona for Mississippi shortly after Norman's suspected murder.

  • On January 28, 2026, police responded to the apartment complex and found Norman's body.
  • On January 15, 2026, Norman left her apartment to meet Santillan and never returned.
  • Shortly after Norman's suspected murder, Santillan fled Arizona for Mississippi.

The players

Randal Basilio Santillan

A 27-year-old Arizona man who has been arrested in Mississippi and will be extradited to Arizona on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the death of Yessenia Gabriella Norman.

Yessenia Gabriella Norman

An 18-year-old woman who was found dead in an apartment leased to Santillan after meeting him on a social media dating site.

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What’s next

Santillan will be extradited from Mississippi to Arizona, where he will be booked into jail on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the importance of exercising caution when meeting people online and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies across state lines to bring suspects to justice.