SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – A shocking murder-for-hire plot has rocked the San Bernardino community, leading to the arrest of five men, including the victim’s own husband.
Yesenia “Jessica” Torres, a well-respected local businesswoman, was gunned down on January 10 in the parking lot of Burger Point on West Mill Street. Surveillance footage captured the horrifying moment she was ambushed, chased around her car, and shot multiple times.
At first, authorities believed it was a robbery. However, a deeper investigation exposed a calculated assassination, allegedly orchestrated by her estranged husband, Sergio Reveles, amid a bitter divorce battle over multi-million-dollar assets.
“These criminals targeted Jessica in a premeditated murder-for-hire scheme,” said San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman.
Detectives quickly identified a suspect vehicle, which was later found abandoned at a Walmart parking lot. The suspects then switched cars and changed clothes before fleeing. Within four hours, police identified two primary suspects: Gerardo Llamas-Torres, 31, the alleged shooter, and Arnoldo Ruelas, 54, the getaway driver. Both were arrested on January 16 following coordinated raids in Los Angeles and Bakersfield.
Further investigation uncovered that Ruelas’ brother, Reynaldo Ruelas, 37, worked at a property owned by Torres and Reveles. He allegedly served as the middleman between Reveles and his business partner, Juan Perez, 42, who helped coordinate the killing.
On February 6, police arrested Reveles and Perez, seizing $286,000 in cash and multiple firearms.
Authorities revealed that the murder was planned for over a year. All five suspects face murder charges with special circumstances, including financial gain, robbery, and lying-in-wait. They have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail.
Their next court appearance is set for March 14.
Anyone with information is urged to contact San Bernardino Police at (909) 384-5665.
