A probable cause affidavit revealed that one suspect in the shooting and killing of Carlos Garcia Ruiz confessed to a friend that they “shot his cousin during a kidnapping.”
According to the document, the women involved implicated two male subjects they know as “Jordan” and “Flako” being involved in the aggravated kidnapping orchestrated by Ruiz.
The two men are Erik Eduardo Almaraz, 22, and Gerson Escobar Orellana, 20.
Investigators learned that Almaraz and Orellana stayed at their friend’s residence the night of the offense and interviewed him.
Gaston Garcia told police that both men went to his house after the incident and said that “Erik shot his cousin during a kidnapping.”
Authorities conducted a photographic lineup to all four women involved, namely Joselyn Lomeli, 18, Rosalba Sarahi Garcia, 17, Esmeralda Lee Orozco, 19, and 21-year-old Ashley Dinhora Orozco where they all identified Almaraz and Orellana.
According to police, Ruiz led a kidnapping attempt on Mercedes resident Juan Ramirez and his friend Joe Anthony Valdez which occurred Feb. 23 but failed when one of his co-conspirators shot him in the head.
Ramirez told police that prior to the kidnapping he was communicating with both Orozco sisters because he planned to meet with them to “hook up” and sent Esmer his address.
Almaraz and Orellana remain in custody at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on $1.3 million in bonds while the four women’s bonds are set at $1.4 million.
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