Suspect was wanted for the Murder of a Salinas Teen
SALINAS—The U.S. Marshals Office announced on Thursday that they have arrested 21-year-old King City resident and homicide suspect Angela Nicole Zuniga for her role in the May 2013 death of Salinas teen Ricardo Ruiz, who was 14 years old at the time.
Zuniga had fled to Mexico, apparently believing that if she did, she would be untouchable. But the Salinas Police Department enlisted the help of the United States Marshal Service in the investigation.
On Wednesday, July 30 Mexican authorities located and apprehended Zuniga in Tijuana, Mexico. She was deported from Mexico and turned over to the U.S. Marshals’ custody. She was booked into the Las Colinas Detention Center. She is awaiting extradition back to Monterey County.
The stabbing occurred near this Salinas street corner.
“This is an example of how close cooperation between local, state, federal and foreign law enforcement are apprehending fugitive gang members who think they can operate with impunity in the Community of Salinas.” U.S. Marshal Donald O’Keefe said.
Zuniga was wanted for the brutal slaying of Salinas teen Ricardo Ruiz, whom she encountered at the intersection of East Alisal and North Madeira in East Salinas. She reportedly stabbed him in the neck after he confirmed he was in a particular gang.
A Good Samaritan attempted to save Ruiz by taking him to Natividad Medical Center. Ruiz later died after his family decided to take him off life-support. Leslie Denise Rico was arrested at the time after turning herself in to police, but Zuniga remained wanted.
Zuniga is a United States citizen, and thanks to the relentless investigation of the Salinas Police Department, The U.S. Marshal Service, Mexican Investigative Liaison in both San Jose and San Diego, Zuniga was bought to justice.
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