Ninth Person Arrested in Santa Maria Torture, Murder Investigation

by April Charlton , April 3, 2013

SANTA MARIA – Police have arrested a ninth person in connection with the murder of Anthony Ibarra, 28, whose body was discovered in mid-March in the back of a U-Haul truck on a residential street in Orcutt.

Verenisa Aviles

Verenisa Castillo Aviles, 19, was arrested on Monday, April 1, on an unrelated matter. On Tuesday, law enforcement officials added murder and gang-enhancement charges related to Ibarra’s death, police said.

Aviles, of Santa Maria, was booked at Santa Barbara County Jail on a no-bail warrant.

Police discovered Ibarra’s body on March 19, but investigators believe he was killed two days before his body was found in the U-Haul truck. Investigators also believe he was tortured and stabbed to death, police said.

No motive for the slaying has been offered by police, but investigators have said that drugs and gangs played a role in the man’s murder.

Also in custody for the murder are: David Murillo Maldonado, 55, Santos Manuel Sauceda, 33, Robert Sosa, 19, Anthony Jesus Solis, 28, Ramon Maldonado, 37, Carmen Cardenas, 28, Pedro Torres, 54, and Reyes Gonzales, 42. Gonzales is a documented street-gang member.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has said it may seek the death penalty for several of the individuals arrested for Ibarra’s murder.

Santa Maria Times: 9th Arrest Made in Murder case

KCOY: 9th Santa Maria Homicide Suspect Verenisa Aviles in Court

Ninth Person Arrested in Santa Maria Torture, Murder Investigation was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by admin

Categories: Santa Barbara

Tags: murder

About Author

April Charlton

April Charlton is a freelance journalist who specializes in criminal and local government matters. She has more than 11-plus years of experience as a reporter, covering everything from cops and courts to city and county governments. She writes for CrimeVoice and several newspapers on the Central Coast, including the Santa Maria Times, a daily publication, and its sister papers, Times Press Recorder and The Adobe Press. She may be reached at really_dawn@yahoo.com for any comments or suggestions that you may have.