Man Sentenced for 2005 Murder of Kansas Woman After Fleeing to El Salvador

Angel Maria Herrera extradited from El Salvador and convicted for the stabbing death of Maria Morfin-Rojas in Lenexa, Kansas.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:03am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single bloodied knife blade against a pitch-black background, lit dramatically by a harsh camera flash, conceptually representing the violent crime at the center of this story.A recent wave of violent crime in the Lenexa area has exposed the challenges of tracking down suspects who flee the country.Shawnee Today

A 20-year-old man named Angel Maria Herrera has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2005 murder of a 30-year-old woman named Maria Morfin-Rojas in Lenexa, Kansas. Herrera fled to El Salvador shortly after the crime but was eventually extradited back to the United States and convicted by a jury in Johnson County.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges law enforcement can face in tracking down suspects who flee the country, as well as the importance of international cooperation and persistence in seeking justice for victims of violent crimes, even years later.

The details

On September 15, 2005, police responded to a report of suspicious activity at an apartment in Lenexa and found Morfin-Rojas stabbed to death. Detectives quickly identified Herrera as the suspect, but he had already fled to Mexico a few days prior. Herrera was charged with first-degree murder, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was eventually located and arrested in El Salvador in 2023, and a detective from the Lenexa Police Department traveled there with federal agents to extradite him back to the United States to face trial.

  • On September 15, 2005, police responded to the report of suspicious activity at an apartment in Lenexa and found Morfin-Rojas stabbed to death.
  • On September 17, 2005, the Johnson County District Attorney's Office charged Herrera with first-degree murder and issued a warrant for his arrest.
  • On April 27, 2023, detectives were notified that Herrera had been arrested in El Salvador and was being held pending extradition to the United States.
  • In March 2026, a Johnson County judge sentenced Herrera to 50 years in prison for the murder of Morfin-Rojas, plus an additional 34 months for aggravated burglary.

The players

Angel Maria Herrera

A 20-year-old man from Shawnee, Kansas who was convicted of the 2005 murder of Maria Morfin-Rojas and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Maria Morfin-Rojas

A 30-year-old woman from Lenexa, Kansas who was stabbed to death in her apartment in 2005.

Lenexa Police Department

The law enforcement agency that investigated the murder of Morfin-Rojas and worked to extradite Herrera from El Salvador.

Johnson County District Attorney's Office

The prosecutor's office that charged Herrera with first-degree murder and secured his conviction.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The federal law enforcement agency that assisted in the extradition of Herrera from El Salvador.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Angel Maria Herrera out on bail while he appeals his conviction.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of international cooperation and persistence in seeking justice for victims of violent crimes, even years later. It also raises questions about the challenges law enforcement can face in tracking down suspects who flee the country.