December 12, 2025: Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fatal Stabbing of 67-Year-Old Woman on Metro Train

LOS ANGELES - A 47-year-old man was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering an elderly woman aboard a Metro train last year.

"Commuters should feel safe when they ride our public transit but sadly a life was needlessly taken when a man brutally stabbed and robbed a woman who was simply trying to get home after working an overnight shift," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. "We hope her family has some measure of comfort knowing the killer will be in prison for the rest of his life and cannot hurt anyone else. I want to thank Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott of the Major Crimes Division for his efforts in ensuring justice was done."

A jury found Elliot Tramel Nowden (dob 5/06/78) guilty last month of one count of first-degree murder with the special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a robbery. He was also found guilty of first-degree robbery and the jury found true the personal use of a deadly or dangerous weapon allegation.

On April 22, 2024, at approximately 5 a.m., Mirna Soza Arauz, 67, was on a Metro train returning home after working an overnight shift when Nowden stabbed her in the throat, killing her. Nowden also stole her bag as the train was at the Universal City train platform.

Nowden was previously convicted of stabbing a University of Southern California student in the chest on the Expo Line in July 2019. Nowden pleaded no contest to one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to four years in state prison. As part of the plea agreement, he was barred from riding Metro trains.

Case 24CJCF02647 was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Bott and was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.