MIAMI, FL – More than a decade after a brutal attack left a woman traumatized, Miami police have announced the arrest of Julio Alvarenga, the man they say is responsible for the crime. The arrest marks the culmination of an exhaustive investigation that began on January 1, 2014, when a woman was assaulted while walking to work.
The incident occurred on Northwest 12th Avenue near 30th Street, where Alvarenga allegedly grabbed the woman by her hair, dragged her into the bushes, and assaulted her. Despite her attempts to scream for help, police reports indicate that Alvarenga silenced her by covering her mouth and repeatedly striking her face. The woman was held against her will for over an hour and a half before she managed to escape and alert authorities.
For nearly 11 years, the case remained unsolved, with police diligently pursuing leads in the hope of bringing the perpetrator to justice. Surveillance footage from a nearby market captured the suspect and victim together before the attack, providing crucial evidence for investigators.
Initially, the woman’s rape kit revealed foreign DNA, yet no matches were found in the database at the time. This led to the case going cold, despite the Miami police department’s unwavering determination to solve it.
The breakthrough came in January 2025, when detectives finally matched the DNA to Alvarenga following his recent arrest in Miami-Dade County. The arrest was a pivotal moment in a case that had baffled law enforcement for years and brought a sense of closure to the victim and the community.
Miami police expressed their commitment to seeking justice, no matter how long it takes, emphasizing the importance of perseverance in solving such cases. The arrest of Alvarenga is a testament to the dedication of the detectives who worked tirelessly to ensure that justice was served.
The case highlights the critical role of DNA technology and law enforcement’s relentless pursuit of justice, providing hope to other victims of unsolved crimes.