McLeod, a 38-year-old former Marine, is on the U.S. Marshal top 15 most wanted list for his alleged role in the killing of his girlfriend Krystal Mitchell in San Diego, California in 2016. He was placed on the list in 2021.

He is a major arrest for the U.S. Marshals after having been on the run for so long—and there was a reward of $50,000 for his capture. It is the highest ever bounty set by U.S. Marshals.

The veteran Marine has a history of domestic violence, according to the U.S. Marshals website.

The Marshals describe McLeod as armed and dangerous, as well as “an avid body builder and a heavy drinker.”

Mitchell’s mother Josephine Wentzel, a former detective, came out of retirement to help track down McLeod, who was arrested around 4:30 p.m. Monday after investigators received a tip saying he was teaching English at a school in Sonsonate, around 40 miles west of San Salvador.

Deputy Marshals Francisco Barajas and Luis Ramirez worked with El Salvador police to capture the fugitive.

Wentzel on Monday evening, praised Barajas and Sanchez for their “excellent work”.

“I have had faith and trust in them, and ever since meeting Francisco Barajas, I had full confidence that this day would come, and he would be the one to catch him,” she said, as reported by FOX News. “I told him, ‘You are my hero. We are bonded for life.’”

Newsweek has contacted Wentzel for comment, as well as the U.S. Marshals Service.

Mitchell, 30, was found dead in a San Diego apartment on June 10, 2016. She had only been dating McLeod for a few weeks.

Authorities said the pair were from Phoenix, Arizona and were visiting California to see friends.

Police found evidence of foul play and concluded that McLeod was the last person to see Mitchell alive.

McLeod fled immediately after the alleged murder and was believed to have gone to Mexico before going into hiding elsewhere in central America. In February 2017, the Marshals obtained a Federal EFAO warrant for McLeod, who was believed by authorities to have used aliases including “Matt” and “Mateo” while in hiding.

McLeod was spotted in Guatemala in 2017 and Belize a year later but he continued to evade capture.