SAN BERNARDINO, CA – In a chilling murder-for-hire plot, five men, including a woman’s estranged husband, have been charged in connection with her fatal shooting outside a California hamburger restaurant. Yesenia Torres, 44, was killed on January 10 outside Burger Point in San Bernardino in a case that authorities believe was orchestrated against the backdrop of a contentious divorce.
Authorities have charged Torres’ estranged husband, Sergio Reveles, 53, along with Reynaldo Ruelas, 37, Arnoldo Ruelas, 54, Gerardo Llamas, 31, and Juan Perez, 42, in connection with her death. The group faces charges stemming from what investigators describe as a staged robbery that masked deeper motives tied to the couple’s ongoing divorce disputes.
Surveillance footage from the night of the murder depicts the moments leading up to Torres’ death. As she approached her Mercedes SUV, a vehicle stopped behind her, and Llamas emerged to confront her. Despite a struggle and attempts by a passerby to assist, Torres was ultimately shot multiple times outside the Burger Point restaurant. Later, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspects were apprehended after police located their getaway vehicle in a nearby Walmart parking lot. Follow-up raids across Southern California resulted in the arrest of the five men and the seizure of what law enforcement described as hundreds of thousands of dollars.
During a press conference, San Bernardino police shared insights into the depth of the scheme, revealing how the suspects allegedly monitored Torres for months. Detectives uncovered evidence linking the suspects to Torres through a jointly-owned pallet business and revealed that the former couple had substantial shared assets, including commercial properties.
San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman noted Torres’ prominence in the community, highlighting her engagement in civic activities and describing her as both well-known and respected. Her active participation and support for various civic projects left a notable impact on those around her.
Each suspect faces severe charges, including murder with special circumstances related to lying in wait, financial motivations, and committing murder in the guise of a robbery. The upcoming legal proceedings are expected to delve further into these allegations.
The suspects will face a judge on March 14 as the community grapples with the shocking twists of what seemed to be a calculated murder driven by financial and personal grievances.