1988 Murder Suspect Extradited, Arraigned in Court

A man wanted in connection to a murder case that happened over 20 years ago was arraigned in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Wednesday.

42-year-old Raymond Mejias of New York plead not guilty in court for the murder of Jeffrey Harris of Zanesville back in 1988 at 1222 West Main Street.

"Mr. Mejias was indicted back in June of 1988 however he fled our jurisdiction," said Muskingum County Prosecutor Mike Haddox.

Since 1988, Haddox says no information surfaced as to Mejias’ whereabouts until recently.

"It was this past March or April, we got a call from New York City law enforcement that Mr. Mejias had been arrested for an OVI and it was at that time I filed and began an extradition proceeding," said Haddox.

With the cooperation of the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office and the Zanesville Police Department, Mejias was brought back to Zanesville Tuesday night and is being held on a 1 million dollar bond in the Muskingum County Jail. A trial date has not yet been set.