In the early hours of September 24, 2023, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a physical assault in Point Arena, California. A family member informed authorities that 32-year-old Jesus Joel Romero had been assaulted at a local bar earlier that night. Deputies initiated a search and discovered Romero's body on Ten Mile Cut Off Road, a considerable distance from the bar.
Preliminary observations indicated that Romero had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, suggesting he was the victim of a homicide.
As the investigation progressed, detectives identified two persons of interest. On the evening of September 24, 23-year-old Antonio Coria Garcia from Gualala contacted the Sheriff's Office. After interviewing him, detectives established probable cause to arrest Coria Garcia on suspicion of murder. He was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail with bail set at $550,000.
The second suspect was identified as 44-year-old Edgar Arteaga Coria, also from Gualala. Described as approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing between 160 and 170 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and distinctive tattoos on his neck, Coria was considered armed and dangerous. Investigators believed he had fled Mendocino County. Authorities urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact local law enforcement immediately.
The investigation into Romero's death remained active, with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office collaborating with the District Attorney's Office and the California Department of Justice. A forensic autopsy was scheduled to confirm the exact cause of death. Community members with pertinent information were encouraged to assist by contacting the Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center.
