A fugitive who has been on the run since March of 2021 has been captured in Colorado, according to the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Suspect Paul A. Sandoval was accused of tying up and violently raping his girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter after being asked to babysit her on March 15, 2021. Following the alleged acts, a warrant was issued for Sandoval’s arrest four days later.

On October 10 of 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service announced that Sandoval seen at the base of 14,350-foot Blanca Peak and that he was armed with a rifle while “actively fleeing in high-elevation terrain.” A large-scale multi-agency manhunt was activated, with it later noted Sandoval was seen about half a mile north of 16th Street and Elm Avenue in the town of Blanca, possibly with a white dog.

Two days later, on October 12 at about 10:40 a.m., the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office announced that the suspect was in custody. Details surrounding the circumstances of Sandoval’s capture have not yet been released.

All suspects are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.