In the early morning hours of July 2, 2022, the life of 43-year-old Saren Negrete-Perez, a Caucasian female from California, was tragically cut short in a violent encounter in a rural area of Sedgwick County, Kansas. Just after 5 a.m., sheriff's deputies responded to a shooting call in the 4300 block of South Rock Road, an area situated between Wichita and Derby. Upon arrival, they discovered a grim scene.
Negrete-Perez and a man, later identified as 29-year-old Gerardo Ruvalcaba-Ulloa, were found deceased with apparent gunshot wounds in the backyard of a residence.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly unfolded, revealing a complex situation believed to be connected to drug activity. Authorities determined that Negrete-Perez and Ruvalcaba-Ulloa did not reside at the location where their bodies were found. It was not a random act of violence, as investigators believe the victims and the suspects knew each other. Another man, David Baeza, 42, of Wichita, was found at the scene on the side of the road, also suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
As the investigation progressed, arrests were made in connection with the double homicide. David Baeza was taken into custody after his release from the hospital. Two other Wichita men, Joseph Ponse, 43, and Hieu Luong, 42, were also arrested. Initially, all three men faced charges of first-degree murder. The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office later charged Baeza with two counts of first-degree murder, as well as possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine with intent to distribute. Luong was charged with attempted first-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
In a later development, David Baeza pleaded guilty to two counts of voluntary manslaughter and cocaine possession for his role in the deaths of Negrete-Perez and Ruvalcaba-Ulloa. In March 2025, he was sentenced to 122 months in prison. The other two suspects were reported to be awaiting sentencing for their involvement in the incident that ended the lives of Saren Negrete-Perez and Gerardo Ruvalcaba-Ulloa on that summer morning.
