Pacific Beach Killing Suspect Extradited From Texas

Felipe Villegas was flown to San Diego and booked into county jail for the 2022 killing of Mary Garcia.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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After more than a year on the run in Texas, the man San Diego detectives have long suspected in the 2022 Pacific Beach killing of Mary Garcia has been extradited and is now in local custody. Felipe Villegas was flown to San Diego on Wednesday and booked into the county jail, where he remains behind bars.

Why it matters

The arrest of Villegas brings some closure to the family of the victim, Mary Garcia, who was found shot to death on the Pacific Beach shoreline in September 2022. The case had taken a dramatic turn early on when Garcia's own son was briefly arrested before being cleared, raising questions about the investigation.

The details

Villegas was originally arrested in Pecos, Texas, in September 2022 on unrelated charges and had remained there until authorities arranged his extradition to San Diego. The San Diego Police Department's Homicide Unit had been investigating the case since Garcia's body was found with at least one gunshot wound in the early morning hours of September 13, 2022. Detectives said additional interviews and evidence gave them probable cause to seek an arrest warrant for the 27-year-old Villegas, who had fled San Diego after the shooting.

  • On September 13, 2022, Mary Garcia's body was found on the Pacific Beach shoreline with at least one gunshot wound.
  • In September 2022, Felipe Villegas was arrested in Pecos, Texas, on unrelated charges and remained there until his extradition to San Diego.
  • On February 22, 2026, Villegas was flown to San Diego and booked into the county jail.

The players

Felipe Villegas

A 27-year-old man who has been extradited from Texas to face investigation in the 2022 killing of Mary Garcia in Pacific Beach.

Mary Garcia

A 65-year-old woman who was found shot to death on the Pacific Beach shoreline in September 2022.

Daniel (Danny) Caldera

The son of Mary Garcia, who was briefly arrested and then cleared as a suspect in his mother's killing.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to work tirelessly to bring justice for victims of violent crime in our community.”

— Chief of Police (SDPD Press Release)

What’s next

The San Diego County prosecutor is expected to move forward with formal charges and an arraignment for Felipe Villegas in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of long-distance investigations and extraditions, as well as the importance of thorough police work in resolving complex homicide cases, even years after the initial incident.