The San Bernardino detectives are shedding light on what they believe is the cold murder plot that led to the death of 44-year-old Yasenia Torres, known as Yessica Torres. The crime that unfolded during the day was caught up in surveillance video and sent shockwaves through the community.
The investigation points to Sergio Rebel, the victim’s estranged husband, as the mastermind behind the murder. Officials suggest that the killing was driven by a bitter, unresolved divorce, including millions of dollars in assets. Detectives said the case attracted a lot of attention after working with local law enforcement, the California Highway Patrol, the FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
The fatal incident occurred on January 10th when Torres left the restaurant in San Bernardino. As she approached her car, the man rose behind her and left, approaching her with a gun. Initially, police believed the incident was a robbery. However, footage from multiple surveillance cameras quickly revealed a much darker reality.
“There are surveillance cameras everywhere. [and] In this case, we found a lot of footage from her residence, employment and crime scene,” said Detective Dominique Martinez of the San Bernardino Police Station.
However, what police thought was a robbery quickly escalated into a shooting.
The video shows a gunman attacking Torres and shooting him multiple times as he tried to escape. At one point, bystanders rushed for help, but the gunman chased after her as Torres tried to escape to a nearby building. The video pauses just before the fatal shot of the final.
“Today we present the culmination of a nearly month investigation that took Yesenia Torres’ life,” Detective Martinez shared.
On Tuesday, authorities announced the arrests of 31-year-old Gerald Lamas of Bakersfield, who is accused of being a shooter, and 54-year-old Arnold Rulas of Los Angeles, who is allegedly driving a getaway vehicle. The arrest came after witnesses provided important information from the day of the crime.
“What we always ask is what link between the victim and the two suspects,” Martinez said. “It was deep inside us.”
As the investigation progressed, detectives discovered a connection to 37-year-old Reynaldo Ruelas, the brother of the man who was arrested. Reinaldo worked for a local pallet company in San Bernardino. San Bernardino was owned by Torres and her estranged husband, Rebel.
Authorities believe that disputes over the company and its assets played a pivotal role in violent crimes. “Divorce is in the process for two years, and when there are millions, you go back and forth between all your assets,” Martinez explained. “In this case, I can’t say what, but it was a murder in an employment case.”
During the investigation, police found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and firearms. These findings further suggest that the killing was adjusted for economic benefits.
So far, five men have been arrested in connection with Torres’ death. The San Bernardino County District Attorney announced that all five suspects face multiple charges, including murder and robbery. They are scheduled to appear in court on March 14th.
Law enforcement has been tirelessly trying to put together details of the incident, but the victim’s families remain silent. Efforts to contact Torres’ relatives for comments failed.
The investigation into the murder plot continues as authorities work to bring justice to the victims and her family.
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