During the course of this investigation, Matias Tomas Vietto was identified as being the suspect in this case.
Sheriff's Detectives learned Vietto told friends that he was leaving California to return to his country of origin, Argentina. Using this information, Sheriff's Detectives discovered Vietto had an international flight booked from the state of New York to Argentina on the evening of 12-10-2022.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Vietto and New York law enforcement authorities were alerted.
On 12-12-2022 at approximately 9:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time), Vietto was arrested by the New York Police Department attempting to travel to Argentina.
Vietto will be held in New York pending extraditation back to Mendocino County.
A big Bravo Zulu to the sheriff’s detectives!
If I knew how to do it, I would post up Madonna’s “Don’t Cry For Me Argentinian” or “Goodbye Argentina” and it’s summertime down there now… more’s the pity Vietto will miss it.
Wow! Great work by all involved (except for the thief, who should get a severe sentence).