On September 25, 2020, Cesar Alvarado, a 38-year-old resident of Fallon, Nevada, met a tragic and violent end. The incident unfolded in a manner that would later reveal a complex web of premeditation and involvement by multiple individuals.
The primary suspect in Alvarado's murder is Ofelia Murillo, who was Alvarado's former wife. Murillo, 55 years old at the time of the incident, was arrested on November 4, 2020, by investigators from the Churchill County Sheriff's Office on charges of
open murder in connection with Alvarado's death.
According to the allegations and court documents, Murillo played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of the murder. It was alleged that Murillo drove another individual, identified as Fabian Caballero, to the vicinity of Alvarado's residence with the intent to lie in wait and kill him. On the day of the murder, Murillo and Caballero used a 9mm handgun to shoot and kill Alvarado. The criminal complaint detailed that Murillo's actions were deliberate and premeditated, involving her driving Caballero to the scene and her knowledge that something harmful was about to occur, although she claimed she did not know the specifics.
Murillo's involvement extended beyond the immediate act of murder. She and Caballero also took a vehicle owned by the victim without his permission and drove it across the border into Mexico. Additionally, Murillo was accused of attempting to conceal evidence by hiding the firearm used in the killing, which was part of the charges against her for destroying evidence to conceal the commission of a crime.
Following her arrest, Murillo faced multiple charges, including open murder with the use of a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, and grand larceny of a motor vehicle. Initially charged with open murder, a Class A felony that could have resulted in the death penalty or life in prison, Murillo's charges were later amended as part of a negotiated plea agreement. On November 30, 2020, Murillo pleaded guilty to principal voluntary manslaughter with the use of a deadly weapon, a Category B felony, and to first offense grand larceny of a motor vehicle. The plea agreement stipulated a prison term of 4-10 years for the manslaughter charge, with an additional 4-10 years due to the firearms enhancement, totaling 8-20 years. The grand larceny charge would run concurrently with the manslaughter sentence.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Murillo was represented by Reno attorney Ken Lyon, who negotiated the plea agreement. The case was handled by various judges, including Judge Thomas Stockard, who initially presided over the case but later recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Judge Jim C. Shirley of the Eleventh Judicial District Court of the State of Nevada was scheduled to preside over the sentencing hearing set for February 28, 2022.
The intricate details of Murillo's involvement and the negotiated plea highlight the complexity and severity of the crime committed against Cesar Alvarado, underscoring the deliberate and premeditated nature of his murder.
