5 males arrested in reference to murder-for-hire plot in San Bernardino involving the spouse of one of many suspects

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) — 5 males have been arrested in reference to a murder-for-hire plot in San Bernardino involving the spouse of one of many suspects, leading to her dying.

Yesenia Torres, identified by her buddies as Jessica, was shot to dying on Jan. 10 within the car parking zone of Burger Level on west Mill Avenue.

Surveillance video confirmed the sufferer strolling out of the restaurant to her automotive; then being approached by a gunman who chased her across the automotive earlier than opening fireplace.

Authorities mentioned it initially appeared like a theft, however additional investigation revealed it was a calculated homicide plot.

“These criminals focused this sufferer, in a murder-for-hire scheme that was stemming from a contentious divorce,” mentioned San Bernardino police chief Darren Goodman.

Detective Dominick Martinez mentioned eyewitnesses recognized the license plate of the suspect automobile, which was discovered deserted in a Walmart car parking zone within the east finish of the town.

“The suspects then acquired right into a second automobile, which was positioned at one other enterprise,” mentioned Martinez. “There, we noticed that the suspects had modified their clothes and went inside a enterprise for a brief period of time, and acquired within the second automobile and fled the realm.

Police mentioned the plot was motivated by an ongoing dispute through the divorce over the division of multi-million-dollar belongings.

“Jessica was a businesswoman in our neighborhood,” mentioned Goodman. “She was well-known and properly revered in our neighborhood; she was very civically engaged and supported quite a few endeavors all through our metropolis.”

Martinez mentioned they recognized two major suspects inside 4 hours.

The alleged shooter was recognized as Gerardo Llamas-Torres, 31, and the alleged getaway driver was recognized as Arnoldo Ruelas, 54.

They have been arrested on Jan. 16 after numerous companies, together with SBPD SWAT, executed a number of search warrants in Los Angeles and Bakersfield.

Authorities recovered proof linking each suspects to the homicide, together with a big sum of cash.

Detectives mentioned additional proof indicated that Ruelas’ brother, Reynaldo Ruelas, 37, labored at a property owned by the sufferer and her estranged husband, recognized as Sergio Reveles, 53.

Reynaldo served as an middleman between Reveles and his enterprise accomplice Juan Perez, 42.
Reveles and Perez have been taken into custody on Feb. 6. Investigators seized over $286,000 in money and a number of firearms on the time of their arrest.

Particulars about how the murder-for-hire scheme was executed weren’t instantly out there, however police mentioned that it had been deliberate for greater than a yr.

All 5 suspects are charged with homicide, in addition to particular circumstances for theft, monetary achieve and lying-in-wait.

All defendants pleaded not responsible to all expenses at arraignment and are being held with out bail.

They’re all scheduled to seem for a pre-preliminary listening to in court docket on March 14.

Anybody with info is requested to contact Murder Detective M. Yeun at (909)384-5665, Detective D. Martinez at (909) 384-5619 or Murder Sergeant E. Campos at (909) 384-5613.