A man who fled to the Dominican Republic before he could be arrested and charged with murder has been extradited back to the Bay State, and arraigned for the alleged house party killing he’s suspected in.

Dominican man Jose Sanchez, 27, was held without bail on Monday after pleading not guilty to the murder of Lawrence man Luis Mendez.

The Lawrence man was 38 years old when he was shot to death at a house party in the basement of 210 Market St., on April 25, 2022.

Sanchez was charged with murder following Mendez’s 2022 death, but he fled prior to his arrest. Then in October of 2024, Sanchez was apprehended in the Dominican Republic, where he remained until his extradition to the U.S. last Friday.

Sanchez was arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Monday.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the United States Department of Justice for their collaboration and commitment to public safety, which were instrumental in the successful extradition of the defendant,” Essex DA Paul Tucker said in a statement.

“Further, I would like to thank all of our law enforcement partners whose diligent work on this matter made today’s arraignment possible,” Tucker added.

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Det. Kevin Nigohosian, Sgt. Christopher Cote, and the Lawrence Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Office of the Essex District Attorney investigated the case.

The Department of Justice coordinated Sanchez’s return to the U.S. to face the murder charge, along with the Marshals Service, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Essex County Sherriff Kevin Coppinger, and the Lawrence Police Department.