The owner of an Ontario noodle company who was sought for 30 years in the disappearance of an employee has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge after being extradited from Thailand, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said Monday, Jan. 26.
Luis Garcia, who worked for Woravit Mektrakarn, was last seen on Nov. 23, 1996, when he was believed to have met Mektrakarn to receive a payment in what the DA’s Office described as “a financial agreement.” Garcia has not been seen since.
Mektrakarn left the United States shortly after that date and lived under an assumed name between Burma and Cambodia for nearly 30 years, the news release said. In 2024, he was arrested by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok at the request of U.S. authorities while living under an alias and in disguise.
On Jan. 16, 2026, Mektrakarn was extradited and escorted to San Bernardino by the U.S. Marshals Service.
On Jan. 20, according to Superior Court records, a judge entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of Mektrakarn at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse. Mektrakarn is being held without bail.
His next court appearance was set for Feb. 17.
It was unclear on Monday how Mektrakarn was discovered, how he managed to elude authorities and what sort of work he did while on the lam. The Southern California News Group is seeking those details and others, such as what sort of disguise the fugitive was wearing when caught.
“This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice, no matter how much time has passed,” District Attorney Jason Anderson wrote in the news release. “It also stands as a testament to the extraordinary efforts and partnerships of law enforcement agencies across the globe, whose dedication made this outcome possible.”