LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Clearlake couple and their adult son have been arrested by Sonoma County Sheriff’s detectives for a Friday murder in Santa Rosa.
Maria Guadalupe Torres, 40, her husband, 40-year-old Rene Espinoza Martinez Sr., and their son, 20-year-old Rene Espinoza Martinez Jr. were arrested as a result of the homicide investigation so far, according to a Saturday afternoon report from Sgt. Spencer Crum of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
The name of the victim is currently being withheld as his family has not yet been notified, Crum said.
Crum said that at about 8:30 a.m. Friday the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the California Highway Patrol stating they were out with a suspicious vehicle in the 4500 block of Porter Creek Road in Santa Rosa.
The vehicle reportedly had bullet holes and blood was present inside and outside of the vehicle, Crum said.
Deputies arrived just before 9 a.m. and found a blue Toyota Previa with windows shot out and bullet holes present in the driver’s side of the van, according to Crum.
Crum said deputies searched the surrounding area and found the body of a Hispanic male in his mid-30s down a ravine near the Previa.
Sheriff’s detectives were called out and they processed the scene and conducted an investigation, Crum said.
Evidence located within the vehicle led detectives to a Santa Rosa motel, where Crum said they were able to get check-in information and surveillance video linking the victim to the primary suspect, identified as Torres.
Crum said the detectives went to Lake County and located Torres along with her son and husband.
Through interviews with the three, detectives learned that Torres had been involved in a lengthy romantic relationship with the victim. Crum said Torres’ husband and son recently became aware of this relationship and didn’t approve.
Early on Friday, Torres was with the victim on Porter Creek Road in the Previa when they pulled over in a dirt turnout in the 4500 block, Crum said.
Crum said that after they pulled over, Torres got out of the Previa as her husband and son pulled over in their car alongside them.
Torres' son and husband fired a gun from their car into the driver side of the Previa. Crum said the victim was shot and fled out the passenger side of the Previa. He ran to the ravine where he fell and was left for dead.
Crum said Saturday that authorities are not yet releasing details of who shot the victim. However, investigators have concluded that all three of the family members acted in concert.
As a result, Torres, her husband and son were arrested and booked for homicide and conspiracy, he said.
On Saturday the three were being booked into the Sonoma County Jail, where Crum said they will be held without bail.
Crum said detectives are still seeking to interview witnesses and the agency will release more information on the case it becomes available.
Three Lake County family members arrested for homicide, conspiracy in Santa Rosa shooting
- Lake County News reports