Another Suspect Arrested in Murder Investigation

ORCUTT – Santa Maria police have arrested a fourth suspect in an ongoing homicide investigation that began earlier this week.

Reyes Gonzales

Guadalupe resident Reyes Gonzales was taken into custody late Tuesday, March 19, in Santa Maria for violating his AB109 probation and subsequently charged with murder stemming from a homicide investigation that began Monday in the 1100 block of West Donovan, police said.

Gonzales, 42, is a known and documented member of a local street gang and the fourth person arrested in connection with the murder of Santa Maria resident Anthony Ibarra, 28. Investigators believe Ibarra was killed sometime Sunday or Monday, and that the deadly crime is gang related.

Investigators discovered Ibarra’s body Tuesday morning in the back of a U-Haul truck parked on a residential street in Orcutt. Three Santa Maria residents were also arrested that day for their alleged role in the man’s death, according to police

Also in custody for conspiracy to commit murder are: Ramon Maldonado, 37, Carmen Cardenas, 28, and Pedro Torres, 54. All four suspects have been booked at Santa Barbara County Jail.

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