Four men, including two from Santa Maria, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of the murder of Adan Cervantes Ruiz, who was found dead in September wrapped in a sleeping bag along Highway 154 near Los Olivos.

The murder happened the evening of Sept. 15, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, as several people were transporting processed and packaged marijuana out of their marijuana growing site, which was found near Highway 1 south of Lompoc.

Suspected in the murder of Ruiz, 23, are: Horacio Santoyo, 19, of Santa Maria; Dimas Santayo, 29, of Santa Maria; Servando Cabrera, 20, of Perris; and Jose Juan Villa-Cervantes, 26, of Perris.

The four suspects and the victim were all involved with the marijuana operation, Sgt. Alex Tipolt of the sheriff's department alleged Thursday. He said he did not have information on any possible motive for the killing.

The suspects were booked into custody at Santa Barbara County Jail without bail set, according to the sheriff's department.

Tipolt said that sheriff's detectives have obtained information that shows the suspects were directly involved in the planning and execution of Ruiz's murder. They worked with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, which reviewed the case, he added.

Ruiz died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, and detectives reportedly found evidence that he was killed a quarter-mile from the marijuana cultivation operation. More than 90,000 plants, worth an estimated $275 million, were found at the site, Sheriff Bill Brown has said.

Advertisement

Investigators have said both Ruiz and the marijuana farm were part of a larger narcotics operation that could span the entire state.

Late last year, nine suspects in the growing operation and homicide investigation were traced to a motel in Carpinteria and questioned, officials have said. They were found to be undocumented immigrants and were turned over to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Brown said at the time.

Additionally, five people from Perris were arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale and were questioned about their possible involvement in Ruiz's death, officials said. Those five were booked into Santa Barbara County Jail.

It was unclear Thursday whether any of the men arrested Thursday were among those arrested last year on drug charges.

Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@santamariatimes.com.

May 16, 2008