Above: Dennis Novoa (L) and Diana Ornelas (R) | Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office
In a recent development in the investigation of the death of 24-year-old Oliver Waterfall, authorities have made two arrests related to the case.
The incident, which occurred on April 11, initially prompted concern after a body was discovered down a hillside off Highway 9 near mile marker 3.56. The discovery triggered an immediate response from local law enforcement agencies.
At around 7 PM, deputies received a distress call reporting the presence of a deceased individual. Detectives were dispatched to the scene and initiated a thorough investigation into what appeared to be a possible homicide. Following standard procedure, the coroner’s unit conducted an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The deceased has been identified as 24-year-old Oliver Waterfall, a resident of San Jose. The results of the autopsy revealed that Waterfall died of a gunshot wound, confirming that his death was the result of a deliberate act of violence. Authorities officially declared the incident a homicide.
Over the course of the past two weeks, detectives conducted numerous interviews and meticulously reviewing surveillance footage, ultimately resulting in the identification and arrests of two individuals in connection with the murder of Mr. Waterfall.
The arrested individuals have been identified as 27-year-old Dennis Novoa from San Jose and 22-year-old Diana Ornelas from Santa Clara. Both suspects were known to the victim, authorities say.
While the precise details surrounding the motive remain under investigation, authorities believe that the crime was driven by personal reasons, indicating a potential personal relationship between the victim and the suspects.
Law enforcement agencies are urging anyone who possesses additional information relevant to the homicide investigation to come forward and assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Detective Sergeant Simpson can be reached at 831-454-7702 for anyone who has valuable information that could help shed light on the circumstances leading to Mr. Waterfall’s death.
