A man who stabbed his girlfriend to death in East Palo Alto and then fled to Mexico in 1995 was sentenced today, Nov. 1, to 17 years to life in prison, Al Serrato, San Mateo County assistant district attorney, said.

Jose Luis Arreola Cruz, 40, stabbed and killed his former girlfriend, 19-year-old Gabriella Tello, inside her East Palo Alto home at 2356 Ralmar Ave. on May 21, 1995. Police said that Cruz and Tello had lived together and had a daughter, 2-year-old Stephanie. Tello had broken up with Cruz and moved in with a new boyfriend, police said.

During preliminary testimony, police said Cruz showed up uninvited to a Menlo Park first communion party for Tello's two young sisters. She left the party after arguing with Cruz. Witnesses said he was drunk and had followed her.

Police said Tello's sister found her body on the living room floor of her home that evening. She had been stabbed with a kitchen knife multiple times. Police found the child in one of the bedrooms. Officers said the girl told police that she saw Cruz hitting her mother. A beer bottle with Cruz's fingerprints was found in the home.

Cruz fled to Mexico and remained at large for 16 years. He was captured on March 10, 2011, by U.S. Homeland Security agents as he attempted to cross into the U.S. border just south of Laredo, Texas.

On Sept. 21, he was in the middle of his murder trial when his attorney announced that he wanted to plead guilty to murder. After discussion with the victim's family and the District Attorney's Office, Cruz was allowed to plead guilty to all charges. He received 15 years to life for second-degree murder and one year each for a knife-use enhancement and having a prior prison term.

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.