ADELANTO, California – Following a wellness check on January 23, authorities discovered the bodies of six individuals in a desert community in San Bernardino County, California. This discovery led to the arrest of five suspects in connection with the homicides.
During a press conference on Monday night, officials announced the arrest of Toniel Baez-Duarte, Mateo Baez-Duarte, Jose Nicolas Hernandez Sarabia, Jose Gregorio Hernandez Sarabia, and Jose Manuel Burgos Parra. The suspects are being held without bail, and eight guns were recovered during the arrests.
According to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials, the victims had arranged to meet for a marijuana transaction, suggesting their involvement in criminal activity. The victims were found shot to death, with four of the bodies showing signs of burning. Only three of the victims have been identified by authorities: Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, Franklin Noel Bonilla, and Kevin Dariel Bonilla.
The investigation into this gruesome crime has revealed a large, illegal marijuana cultivation problem in the area. The Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call from one of the victims, Franklin Noel Bonilla, who reported being shot. Tragically, he was unable to provide his location. Responding to the call, Sheriff’s personnel found five dead bodies and discovered Bonilla’s deceased body shortly afterward.
The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives offered assistance to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation. However, local investigators are taking the lead in handling the case.
A blue Chevy SUV riddled with bullet holes was found in the area where some of the bodies were located, adding another chilling clue to the investigation. The arrest of the five suspects offers hope for the community in finding justice for the six lives lost in this tragic event.