On January 23, 2024, 45-year-old Jose Ruelas-Calderon of El Mirage, California, was among six men found dead in a remote area of the Mojave Desert near Adelanto. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department responded to a distressing 911 call from one of the victims, Franklin Noel Bonilla, who reported being shot but was unable to provide his exact location.
Utilizing cellphone data, deputies located the crime scene near Lessing Avenue and Shadow Mountain Road, where they discovered the bodies of five men; a sixth victim was found nearby the following morning.
Investigations revealed that all six victims had suffered gunshot wounds, with four also showing signs of severe burns. The identified victims included Ruelas-Calderon, 34-year-old Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran of Adelanto, 22-year-old Franklin Noel Bonilla of Hesperia, 25-year-old Kevin Dariel Bonilla of Hesperia, 47-year-old Narcisco Sandoval, and 41-year-old Adrian Ochoa-Salgado.
Authorities determined that the murders stemmed from a dispute over illegal marijuana operations. Following an extensive investigation, five suspects were arrested and charged with the killings: 34-year-old Toniel Baez-Duarte and 24-year-old Mateo Baez-Duarte, both of Apple Valley; 33-year-old Jose Nicolas Hernandez-Sarabia, 34-year-old Jose Gregorio Hernandez-Sarabia, and 26-year-old Jose Manuel Burgos Parra, all of Adelanto. Each faces multiple charges, including six felony counts of murder.
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus highlighted the connection between the murders and illicit marijuana activities, emphasizing the broader issues associated with illegal cannabis operations in the region. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Ruelas-Calderon and the other victims remains ongoing, as authorities continue to address the challenges posed by unauthorized marijuana cultivation and distribution.
