Cold Case Homicide Arrest

The Albuquerque Police Department released the following statement.

On August 4, 1987, the body of 37-year-old Diedre Brewington was located in her apartment on Coal Avenue SW. Investigation determined she had been shot to death. APD detectives learned Diedre was separated from her husband, 43-year-old Ronald A. Brewington, and she intended to divorce him. Investigators determined that there was probable cause to arrest Mr. Brewington for the murder of his wife and an arrest warrant was obtained. However, Mr. Brewington had already fled New Mexico and could not be located. In April, 1988, the Bernalillo County grand jury indicted Mr. Brewington for first-degree murder in the death of Diedre and a bench warrant was issued. Mr. Brewington has eluded capture on this charge and has been a fugitive for almost 25 years.

Last fall, the Albuquerque Police Department’s Cold Case Unit began a follow up investigation of this murder and began trying to locate Mr. Brewington. A collaborative multi-agency investigation took place. Detectives tracked Mr. Brewington and learned he has used many aliases and has resided in many locations across the U.S. during the past 25 years. Through investigation, the alias Mr. Brewington is currently using was learned.

With the assistance of the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the San Francisco Office of the FBI, Oakland Police Department, San Francisco Police Department and the U.S. Marshals, Mr. Brewington was tracked to the San Francisco Bay Area. Each agency was very involved and instrumental in this investigation. An Albuquerque Police Department Cold Case detective and other law enforcement officers travelled to the Bay Area to conduct additional investigation.

The Albuquerque Police Department officers who traveled to the Bay Area reported today that Mr. Brewington has been successfully taken into custody.

APD would like to thank the Albuquerque Office of the FBI, the San Francisco Office of the FBI, Oakland Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals for their assistance with this investigation. The cooperation between these agencies was nothing short of amazing and this shows the dedication of these law enforcement agencies and how they will never stop investigating cold cases and tracking down wanted fugitives.