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Murdered Boston woman’s mother offers $3500 reward for killer’s capture

BOSTON — This Thursday, it will be exactly one month since 23-year-old Deija Mendez of Boston was shot and killed in Lowell while trying to buy a car in a private sale.

Deija’s alleged killer, 20-year-old Xavier DeJesus, is now one of the Massachusetts State Police Most Wanted Fugitives and is still on the run.

>>>MORE: Lowell man sought in connection to shooting death of 23-year-old Boston woman

Deija’s mother, Carmen Nieves, is frustrated and she has raised a $3500 reward for information that leads to the capture of Xavier DeJesus.

“It’s been a month,” Nieves said. “And now I have to pick up my daughter’s ashes. And it’s difficult. The 23rd, it will be a month and this man hasn’t been caught. It’s ridiculous.”

The facts of Deija’s shocking murder are still under investigation. But it appears she was murdered during a dispute over a car she was trying to buy from a friend in Lowell.

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The car belonged to the friend, but it was actually in the possession of the friend’s former girlfriend, Selena Simonphone, who, it turns out, is the mother of fugitive suspect Xavier DeJesus’ child.

“My daughter was buying a car. From a friend, no more, no less,” Nieves said. “I know what she went up there for and she lost her life over it.”

Simonphone, along with two other men, have been arrested and charged with misleading investigators in the case. But Xavier DeJesus is still a fugitive.

Nieves said she hopes the $3500 reward, offered with money raised from friends, family and strangers, will motivate someone to do the right thing and call police.

“The reward is there for you. Cash. I will give you cash for any information leading to his arrest,” Nieves said.

Xavier DeJesus is considered armed and dangerous.

Related: Names of three suspected killers added to Mass State Police’s most wanted fugitives list

If you have any information about his whereabouts, contact the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section at 1-800-KAPTURE.