EX-CON HELD IN SHOTGUN SLAYING OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRLFRIEND.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A 20-year-old Lancaster man wanted in connection with the slaying of his 13-year-old girlfriend was arrested Thursday evening after deputies received a tip that he was in an east Lancaster neighborhood.

Santino ``Sonny'' Casio was arrested without incident in front of a home in the 2100 block of East Avenue I just after 4 p.m., officials said.

``We were tipped off to his location by an anonymous informant and sent undercover deputies to look for him,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Tim Cain, a homicide investigator.

Casio is accused of shooting girlfriend Evelyn Brenda Cendejas in the face with a shotgun after an argument. A roommate found Cendejas' body about 12:40 a.m. June 9 in the living room of a Lancaster duplex where the pair had been living.

Investigators said the couple began arguing about 11:30 p.m. June 8 but would not reveal what the argument was about.

A Mesa Intermediate School student, Cendejas had run away from her family's Palmdale home in April with Casio, an ex-convict wanted for a parole violation, authorities said.

They had been living in the 1100 block of West Avenue H-14 in a duplex rented by members of Casio's family.

Casio, detectives hoped, would be easily identifiable because of distinctive tattoos, including a paw print on the back of his head and horns tattooed just above his forehead.

When undercover deputies went to check the location the anonymous tipster led them to, they saw Casio in front of a home. He was arrested without incident.

Investigators then questioned two women Casio was believed to be living with but neither was arrested.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in AV only -- ran in AV and SAC edition only) CASIO

(2 -- color in AV only -- ran in AV and SAC edition only) CENDEJAS