John Fitzgerald Dubose Jr., 20, and his friend, Ladexter Pelt, 25, both from Alabama, flew to Sacramento, California, on November 4, 2021, to visit friends. Upon their arrival, they were seen getting into a dark blue four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan or Toyota, which departed from the airport at 11:07 a.m. Their last known location was just south of Gridley, California, a city about 60 miles north of Sacramento. After their families lost contact with them, they were reported as missing.
The investigation into their disappearance began, and on November 8, 2021, a hunter discovered Dubose's cellphone in the Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area, near the Feather River Bridge crossing in the vicinity of Nicholas, California. A subsequent search of the area did not yield any further clues. The following day, information from Pelt's cellphone provider led investigators to a hotel in Sacramento. Based on evidence gathered, the Butte County Sheriff's Office announced their belief that both men had been murdered at a residence in Gridley.
In connection with the disappearances, brothers Ricardo and Alfredo Banuelos-Villarreal of Gridley were charged with two counts of murder in December 2021. Investigators believe the brothers killed Pelt and Dubose at a house in Gridley and subsequently hid their bodies. A search of Ricardo's detached garage revealed blood evidence that matched the DNA of one of the missing men. Authorities also stated that the Banuelos-Villarreals had a prior connection to the victims, having allegedly sent them marijuana in Alabama.
Ricardo Banuelos-Villarreal was arrested on November 14, 2021, in Yuba City. However, his brother, Alfredo Banuelos-Villarreal, remains at large and is actively being sought by law enforcement. Ricardo has faced two murder trials. The first, in September 2022, resulted in a hung jury, with the vote being nine to three for conviction. While the jury could not reach a verdict on the murder charges, they did convict him of transporting marijuana out of state. A second murder trial in November 2023 also concluded with a hung jury, this time with a seven to five vote for conviction. The bodies of John Fitzgerald Dubose Jr. and Ladexter Pelt have not been found, but authorities suspect foul play due to the circumstances of their disappearance.
Last Seen: Nov 4, 2021
