BOSTON, April 22, 2012—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis today announced the arrest of an East Boston man wanted for the beating death of 47-year-old Michael Costa in East Boston.

Chelsea Police, aware of a be-on-the-lookout request from Boston authorities, this morning apprehended JEAN TORRES VARGAS (D.O.B. 2/2/81), more commonly known as “Tyson,” on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder. Vargas was indicted March 14 on that charge and had been sought since he failed to appear at his April 9 arraignment.

Boston Police took Vargas into custody later today. He is expected to be arraigned tomorrow in Suffolk Superior Court. Authorities thanked Chelsea Police for their action taking him into custody, the public for their tips, and the media for broadcasting photos and information on the suspect.

Investigators say Costa and a friend were waiting for a bus on Meridian Street in East Boston on the afternoon of Nov. 2, 2010. Costa noticed Vargas nearby and pointed himout as someone with whom the friend had a prior dispute. Vargas allegedly overheard this exchange and approached the two men.

Evidence suggests that Vargas physically assaulted both men, knocking Costa to the ground. Vargas allegedly continued to kick and beat Costa, at one point even bracing himself with a nearby fence as he stomped on the man.

Costa was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries. He remained hospitalized for the next 13 months, dying of complications from those injuries on Dec. 17, 2011.

In the aftermath of the beating, prosecutors indicted Vargas on two counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon – a shod foot and the cement sidewalk. When state pathologists declared Costa’s death a homicide earlier this year, they sought and obtained an additional indictment charging him with first-degree murder.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.