For the family of Lee Glass Thornton, justice may be too late in coming.

Charges were filed Tuesday in Thornton's murder, more than 15 years after she was found stabbed to death -- and two years after the lone suspect was deported.

Bernardo Carrillo, 43, was released from the Salt Lake County jail in 1994, when prosecutors decided they did not have enough evidence to charge him in Thornton's murder. He was extradited to California, where he had been serving time on unrelated charges.

In 2007, he was released from custody in California and deported to Mexico, said Salt Lake City police Sgt. Robin Snyder.

Even with help from federal marshals, finding him now may prove extremely difficult, Snyder said.

"As far as we know, he doesn't have any ties here anymore," Snyder said.

The decision to release Carrillo in 1994 was not without controversy. Investigators at that time predicted the case would be difficult to revisit, and, according to Tribune archives, Thornton's daughter was "furious."

``How much evidence do they need? They have his fingerprints. They have things that he stole from her,'' Thornton's daughter said in 1994. Her name was withheld to protect her from retribution, and The Tribune was unable to reach her for further comment.

According to Tribune archives, Thornton, 50, had previously told two friends she was frightened of Carrillo, who used to live in her apartment. Carrillo had broken into Thornton's apartment about two weeks before she was found in her bed with nine stab wounds to her throat and chest. Carrillo's fingerprints were found at the scene, and some of Thornton's belongings were found in an apartment where Carrillo had stayed about the time of Thornton's death. There, police also found clothing that appeared to be blood-stained.

However, prosecutors described the evidence as circumstantial and said without a witness or a murder weapon, a conviction would not be secure.

New forensic testing revived the case, Snyder said on Monday. The results show that material found under Thornton's fingernails matches Carrillo's DNA profile, the charges state.

If anyone has information about the whereabouts of Carrillo, they can contact police at 801-799-3000.