In the early morning hours of August 28, 2021, the quiet of a Summerlin desert area was broken by a grim discovery. Construction workers arriving at a site near Alta Drive and Cross Bridge Road in Las Vegas found the body of 21-year-old Ronald Munoz. The Clark County coroner's office would later determine that the young man had died from gunshot wounds to the head, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The discovery left his family heartbroken; his mother, Marcy Munoz, and father, Frank Ramsey, faced the unimaginable pain of burying their son.
Ronald, known affectionately as "Ronnie" or "Nor" to his friends, was remembered as a protector for his mother and younger brother. He had faced challenges in his young life, spending time in foster care as a teenager before moving back in with his mother at 18. He was also navigating a bipolar diagnosis with his mother's support. A vigil held after his death brought together friends and family, who shared stories and lit candles at the desolate spot where his life was cut short.
The investigation into Ronald's death began to unfold when a woman contacted federal authorities with a crucial tip. She reported that two brothers, Nicolas and Wilfred Santos, were involved in the killing. The brothers had recently been arrested in a separate federal case involving illegal firearms and drugs. This information provided a significant lead for Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detectives. Investigators were able to place the Santos brothers at the construction site on the morning Ronald's body was found by using cellphone records.
Further investigation uncovered a web of evidence pointing to the Santos brothers and a third accomplice, 21-year-old Alfred McDade. Surveillance footage from the area showed a maroon Honda Pilot fleeing the scene shortly before Ronald was discovered. Days later, police pulled over the same SUV while McDade was driving. Inside, they found blood on the front seat, evidence of attempts to clean the vehicle, and stain removal products. The owner of the SUV later told police she had lent the vehicle to McDade and Nicolas Santos, and that they had called her from California asking for permission to burn it. Text messages between the brothers also revealed a plan to destroy the car and flee to San Diego. In a damning statement, the mother of Nicolas Santos' child told police that Nicolas had admitted his brother shot someone and that they had disposed of the body in the desert. Prosecutors believe the murder occurred during a failed burglary attempt. A grand jury later indicted Nicolas and Wilfred Santos on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder with a deadly weapon. Alfred McDade also faced charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and accessory to murder after the fact.
