SAN DIEGO, CA. – According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of California, two men are facing several charges for murdering two Yakima witnesses.
The DOJ says Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, 22, and Ricardo Orizaba, 21, of Yakima are facing charges after the murder of Cesar Armando Murillo, 44, and Maria Sofia Hernandez, 33, to prevent their statements in court. Both were buried in a remote location near Yakima after being murdered.
Court documents say Hernandez was also six months pregnant when she was killed.
“These executions were an assault on our justice system, designed to silence witnesses and instill fear,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The obligation to protect witnesses is paramount and the United States will fully prosecute intimidation and violence designed to interfere with the justice system.”
A superseding indictment argues that Madrigal-Birrueta led a criminal enterprise that committed several felony violations of federal drug laws.
Orizaba is included in charges due to being an accessory after the fact to murder.
Court documents say the investigation started after drugs were seized from vehicles using San Diego area entry points into the United States between August and October 2021, with the indictment alleging that Madrigal-Birrueta is responsible for the importation.
In August 2022, agents found a group operating out of Yakima. Homeland Security Investigations interviewed Murillo and Hernandez, who were both murdered and buried in the desert within a few days of the interviews.
The remains of Murillo and Hernandez were found after a year-long investigation that used numerous techniques to find them. They were found on Sep. 13, 2023.
Autopsy reports found that both victims were killed from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Throughout the investigation, agents found and seized meth, cocaine, fentanyl, body armor and several firearms including a machine gun from Madrigal-Birrueta’s alleged drug trafficking operation.
The two are facing 17 different counts, with charges including but not limited to murder in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute and import controlled substances, witness tampering and causing the death of a child in utero.
