In the early morning hours of October 9, 2019, a grim discovery was made under a bridge near West Washington Street and South White River Parkway Drive in Indianapolis. There, authorities found 22-year-old Meliton Salazar in critical condition. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries the following day. An investigation soon revealed the harrowing details of his final moments.
Salazar had been the victim of a brutal attack, shot with his own gun and beaten with a hammer.
The investigation into the young man's death led police to four individuals. It was determined that on the day of the murder, Salazar had met a woman named Jacqueline Lizarraga on the White River Trail. At some point during their encounter, two men, Fernando Bornstein and another individual, launched a violent assault on Salazar. The ensuing robbery escalated to a fatal conclusion, leaving Salazar for dead.
Investigators uncovered social media communications that linked Lizarraga to the others involved, despite her initial denial of any participation in the attack. Ultimately, she, along with Bornstein, Andy Rosales Orellana, and Jayzn Martin, were all charged in connection with Salazar's murder. The wheels of justice began to turn, leading to different paths for the accused.
In October 2022, a jury found Fernando Bornstein guilty of murder following a two-day trial. He was subsequently sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in the brutal slaying. Jayzn Martin chose a different legal route, pleading guilty for his involvement in Salazar's death as part of a larger agreement that also covered three unrelated cases. As of late 2022, the cases against Jacqueline Lizarraga and Andy Rosales Orellana were still making their way through the judicial system, leaving the final chapter of this tragic story to be written.
