Yesenia Jessica Torres, a 44-year-old Latina businesswoman from San Bernardino, California, was fatally shot on January 10, 2025, in what authorities have described as a murder-for-hire plot. The incident occurred in broad daylight outside a hamburger restaurant she frequently visited. Surveillance footage captured Torres engaging in a brief physical struggle with an assailant before being shot multiple times. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly determined that the crime was not a random act of violence but rather a calculated assassination. The San Bernardino Police Department, working alongside multiple law enforcement agencies, uncovered a conspiracy involving five suspects, all of whom had ties to Torres' estranged husband, Sergio Reveles, a 53-year-old businessman. Reveles and Torres had been embroiled in a contentious divorce, with disputes over multi-million-dollar assets spanning Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
Authorities identified the shooter as 31-year-old Gerardo Llamas-Torres, while 54-year-old Arnoldo Ruelas was named as the getaway driver. Further investigation revealed that Arnoldo’s younger brother, 37-year-old Reynaldo Ruelas, acted as an intermediary between the hired killers and the masterminds behind the plot—Reveles and his business partner, 42-year-old Juan Perez. The suspects had allegedly stalked Torres for months leading up to the murder.
On January 16, 2025, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants across Los Angeles and Bakersfield, leading to the arrests of Llamas-Torres and Arnoldo Ruelas. Subsequent operations on February 6, 2025, resulted in the arrests of Reveles, Perez, and Reynaldo Ruelas. Authorities seized over $286,000 in cash and multiple firearms during the raids.
All five suspects have been charged with murder under California Penal Code 187. Prosecutors have also filed special circumstances charges, including financial gain, robbery, and lying in wait. The case has drawn significant attention due to its complexity and the involvement of high-profile business figures. Authorities continue to investigate additional financial transactions and communications that may further implicate the suspects.
