In the early morning hours of November 10, 2017, 37-year-old Kenny Kalugin, a male resident of Gervais, was found deceased in a car parked in an alley in Salem, Oregon. An investigation swiftly determined that he had died from multiple gunshot wounds in what appeared to be a targeted act of violence. The discovery launched a homicide investigation that would soon unravel a plot involving a drug deal gone tragically wrong.
Within days, law enforcement identified three individuals
connected to Kalugin's death. The investigation led them to Jose Ricardo Barboza-Manzo, 21, who was arrested on November 13th. He was taken into custody by the Oregon State Police SWAT team at a residence in Tillamook County after a standoff. Shortly after, Vanessa Garcia-Beiza, 25, was also apprehended. The final suspect, 37-year-old Zachary Urton, was arrested on November 21st following a police chase.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, the narrative of Kalugin's final moments became clearer. Court documents revealed that Barboza-Manzo, Garcia-Beiza, and Urton had arranged to meet with Kalugin under the pretense of a drug transaction. The trio’s actual intention was to rob him. During the encounter, Zachary Urton, a convicted felon with a history of violent crimes, admitted to shooting Kalugin multiple times. Vanessa Garcia-Beiza confessed to driving Urton and Barboza-Manzo away from the scene after hearing the gunshots.
In the end, all three suspects faced justice for their roles in the death of Kenny Kalugin. Zachary Urton pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and two counts of attempted robbery, receiving a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Jose Ricardo Barboza-Manzo also pleaded guilty to murder for his involvement in the fatal robbery. Garcia-Beiza faced charges of murder and first-degree robbery for her part in the crime.
