Napa County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested the man who they believe killed a popular Veterans Home of California at Yountville security officer more than four years ago.

Juan Jose Hernandez Mendoza, 28, is being held in an Oregon jail for the murder of Manny Reyes, 58, on Aug. 4, 2003.

Sheriff’s investigators received a tip that Mendoza, under a different name, was in jail in Oregon, according to sheriff’s Capt. John Robertson.

“Our detectives traveled to Oregon where they positively identified Mendoza as the man wanted for Reyes’ death,” Robertson said.

Arrangements are being made to bring Mendoza back to Napa County for criminal proceedings.

“It will take a while. He is charged with some serious offenses in Oregon,” Robertson said.

Reyes had a large, close-knit family that was surprised and pleased to hear the news.

“What a relief. (The arrest) is a huge weight off my shoulders,” said Reyes’ brother Larry Reyes, who owns Larry’s Barber Shop in Yountville. “I never gave up hope that Manny’s killer would be caught. It still is really tough to talk about it.”

Reyes was also well thought of at the Vets Home.

“Manny had a heart of gold and was as big as life,” said Marcella McCormack, Vets Home administrator. “He was a longtime loyal employee and took pride in serving the veterans and showed his loyalty for 36 years of service. We are pleased there has been an arrest in this case. Our prayers are with Manny’s family at this time.”

The night Reyes was killed he was on duty at the security office at the California Drive entrance to the home.

Around 11:30 p.m., a taxi pulled in as Reyes was having coffee with his girlfriend inside the guard shack. Mendoza was the passenger. The driver, who did not speak Spanish, asked for help in translating because she did not understand where Mendoza wanted to go.

Reyes talked to Mendoza, found out where Mendoza wanted to go and said he would drive him.

Reyes offered to use his patrol vehicle to take Mendoza to a labor camp, north of Yountville. The two of them left.

About an hour later a motorist reported seeing the patrol vehicle on Dry Creek Road, about 10 miles from the Vets Home. The vehicle had crashed into a dirt embankment. When deputies and firefighters arrived they found Reyes outside the car. He had been stabbed multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators believe Mendoza took the cab from a downtown Napa restaurant around 10:30 p.m., the night of the stabbing. They were able to draw a composite sketch from information gathered from a witness who saw Mendoza hail the cab.

About two weeks after Reyes’ death, an arrest warrant was issued for Mendoza, who was able to give detectives the slip several times. Just weeks after the murder, detectives got a tip Mendoza was at a home in the 2100 block of Russell Street in east Napa. They, along with the SWAT team, converged on the home, but Mendoza had fled just moments before they entered the house.

The search for Mendoza led investigators to several California and Oregon counties.

Robertson said detectives have interviewed Mendoza in the Oregon jail. Although he has not provided a motive, “he has given us statements that will be helpful in resolving the case.”

A 1963 graduate of Napa High School, Reyes started working at the home as a cook in 1964 and worked his way up the ranks to security officer by 1980.

Reyes’ murder was featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted.”