Murder suspect arrested two years after man’s death due to former District Attorney not reviewing police investigation

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- ABC-7 clarified the timeline in a murder investigation to find out why an El Paso teacher was arrested and charged with a man's death nearly two years after it happened.

Turns out, no action was taken despite the investigation being in the hands of the former El Paso district attorney for months.

Matthew Mendoza is charged with murder. He was arrested May 18 at Macarthur Pre-K-8 school, where he worked.

Mendoza is accused of killing Eric Hernandez during a fight on August 29, 2021.

The police said the medical examiner ruled that Hernandez's death was not caused by injuries sustained in the fight, which ABC-7 reported shortly after the announcement.

ABC-7 spoke with the district attorney's office Wednesday about what changed. According to the district attorney's office, El Paso police turned the case over to the D.A.'s office so it could determine whether charges were warranted.

That happened in Dec. of 2021, when District Attorney Yvonne Rosales was in office. Rosales resigned at the end of 2022.

While reviewing backlogged cases, the current district attorney put the case in front of a grand jury, leading to the indictment on May 2.

Mendoza posted bond shortly after his arrest.