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Police are searching for a teen suspected of stabbing his coworker to death in San Diego County, and then leaving a mile-long trail of blood behind him.Chula Vista police said 19-year-old Joe Andrew Cortez allegedly stabbed 44-year-old Rene Macias Pressa around 1:30 a.m. last Thursday in the victim's apartment building located at 45 Third Ave. in Chula Vista, NBC San Diego reports. Just four days earlier, Cortez started working at the same restaurant as Pressa. On the night of the stabbing, Cortez had stayed over Pressa's apartment, police said. Authorities said the stabbing stemmed from an argument between the two, and after the incident, the suspect ran away.
Pressa's roommate found Pressa bleeding in the doorway and called police, U-T San Diego reports. However, when officers arrived, Pressa was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police believe Cortez fled to Mexico since he lives in Tijuana, according to 10 News. There was a mile-long trail of blood splatters and drops trailing from the apartment, which led authorities to believe that the suspect was injured during the stabbing. Surveillance videos showed Cortez leaving the apartment, bleeding and barefoot, only wearing a tank top and boxer shorts. Another video showed him crossing the border hours later at 4:40 a.m. Authorities believed Cortez may have walked the over eight-mile distance from the apartment to the border, and possibly hitched a ride for part of the way.
Cortez is described as a Hispanic man, standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to call Chula Vista police Detective Anthony Molina at (619) 691-5178.
