Police say they have arrested five men in connection with the murder for hire of a California businesswoman last month.
San Bernardino Police said one of the five suspects was 44-year-old Yesenia “Jessica” Torres’s husband, KABC reported.
The San Bernardino Police Chief, Darren Goodman, mentioned that surveillance footage revealed a gunman targeting Jessica Torres on January 10. The video showed the gunman following Torres as she left a restaurant, chasing her around her car, and eventually shooting her in broad daylight.
Initially, police thought it was a robbery, but soon learned otherwise.
“These criminals targeted this victim, in a murder-for-hire scheme that was stemming from a contentious divorce,” Goodman said.
Police said they had identified two suspects within four hours of the shooting. Initially, they said, they thought it was a robbery.
Chief Goodman emphasized Torres’ significance in the community, describing her as a prominent businesswoman who was highly regarded and actively involved in civic activities, supporting various initiatives within the city.
The perpetrator, identified as Gerardo Llamas-Torres, aged 31, and the accomplice who aided in their escape, Arnoldo Ruelas, aged 54, were apprehended on January 16 following the incident. Witnesses played a crucial role by providing the authorities with the getaway driver’s license plate number.
As investigators sorted through the case, they recovered evidence linking them to the murder, including a large sum of money. Then they learned that Reulas’ brother, 37-year-old Reynaldo Ruelas, worked at a property owned by Torres and her estranged husband, 53-year-old Sergio Reveles. Reynaldo Ruelas served as an intermediary between Reveles and his business partner, Juan Perez, 42, who were arrested on February 6.
At that time, investigators seized nearly $300,000 in cash and multiple firearms.
Police have not released details of how the murder for hire scheme played out, but they said the suspects had been working on the plan for more than a year.
All five suspects have been charged with murder with special circumstances for robbery, financial gain, and lying in wait. They all pleaded not guilty and were ordered held without bail.
Their next hearing is set for March 14.
