BAKERSFIELD — A 28-year-old woman was arrested last Thursday evening, while her suspected partner in crime, a 25-year-old Bakersfield man, remains on the run from police for the murder of a unidentified man whose body was found burned in a orchard on Sunday, May 3.
Amber Sanders of Bakersfield was arrested for homicide, while authorities have secured a Ramey arrest warrant alleging homicide for Matthew Mejia.
Kern County Sheriff’s Department detectives said that their investigation into the murder of the man, whose burned body was discovered in an orchard in the 12000 block of Highway 166 on May 3, led them to a residence in the 13100 block of Evening Breeze Avenue in Bakersfield.
A warrant was served at the residence on May 7 by Bakersfield police detectives, who had taken over the case. “While at the residence, detectives uncovered evidence that led them to believe a homicide may have occurred there,” BPD Public Information Officer Joe Grubbs. ” As a result, five adults and a juvenile were detained.”
One of those adults was Sanders, who was taken into custody along with two others who were arrested on unrelated arrest warrants. “The other adult and juvenile were questioned and released,” Grubbs said.
Meanwhile, detectives from the Kern County Sheriff’s Department were conducting their own investigation into the murder, which led them to a residence in the 2200 block of Bank Street in Bakersfield.
While conducting surveillance on May 8, detectives attempted to stop a vehicle driven by an individual seen leaving the residence, but the driver refused, leading detectives on a short pursuit, which ended in the 200 block of H Street.
The driver, 23-year-old Bakersfield resident Jessie Gomez, was arrested for evading arrest. Four other individuals, including three adults and an infant, were detained at the home on Bank Street. The adults were questioned by detectives, but only Gomez was taken into custody.
