Bernardo Rodas, a 41-year-old resident of Soquel, California, was tragically found dead on October 13, 2018. His body was discovered in a steep ravine off North Rodeo Gulch Road after he had been reported missing three days earlier. The forensic autopsy revealed that Rodas died from a combination of multiple stab wounds to his torso and a gunshot wound to his head. This brutal and violent end prompted a thorough investigation by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of five suspects over the course of several days. The first arrests occurred between October 16 and 19, 2018, when detectives apprehended Milton Arias Molina, a 22-year-old from San Jose, along with three minors aged 15 to 17 from Capitola and Santa Cruz. The fifth suspect, Jose Leonardo Alfaro Juarez, a 20-year-old, was arrested on October 25, 2018, in Mendota. Juarez had been hiding in a home in Mendota, and his arrest was facilitated by the Fresno County Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium.
Despite the arrests, the motive behind Rodas' murder remains unclear. The suspects have provided conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the killing, complicating the investigation. While some of the suspects have connections to gangs, authorities have stated that Rodas himself was not believed to be gang-affiliated. This has left investigators searching for a clear motive and piecing together the circumstances of the crime.
The case has seen significant legal proceedings, with the suspects facing serious charges related to the murder. The involvement of minors in such a violent crime has added layers of complexity to the legal process. The community of Soquel and the surrounding areas have been deeply affected by this tragic event, and the ongoing investigation continues to seek justice for Bernardo Rodas. Anyone with additional information has been urged to come forward to assist in resolving this case.
