Victim's Lover Among 3 Arrested In Sonoma Co. Homicide: Sheriff's Office

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Three people -- a woman, her husband and her son -- have been arrested on suspicion of homicide and conspiracy in the death of a man whose body was discovered Friday morning not far from a bullet-riddled minivan parked off a roadway in an unincorporated area of northeast Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said Saturday. Detectives with the sheriff's office believe the victim, a Latino man in his mid-30s whose name they have not disclosed, had been involved in a "lengthy romantic relationship" with the female suspect, sheriff's office Spokesman Sgt. Spencer Crum said in a news release.

The sheriff's office initially responded to the scene in the 4500 block of Porter Creek Road just before 9 a.m. Friday after receiving a call from the California Highway Patrol regarding a suspicious vehicle at that location, Crum said. Deputies arrived to find a blue Toyota Previa minivan with its windows shot out and bullet holes in the driver’s side, the sergeant said. Additionally, blood was found inside and outside of the vehicle, Crum said.

Down a nearby ravine, deputies found the male victim's body.

Detectives were called out and an investigation into the death began.

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"Evidence located within the vehicle led detectives to a Santa Rosa motel where they were able to get check-in information and surveillance video linking the victim to the primary suspect identified as Maria Guadalupe Torres, a 40-year-old woman from Clearlake," Crum said.

Detectives then headed to Lake County, where they located Torres, her son, 20-year-old Rene Espinoza Martinez Jr., and her husband, 40-year-old Rene Espinoza Martinez Sr., the sergeant said.

Through interviews with the three family members, detectives learned of Torres' alleged long-term relationship with the victim.

"Interviews with the trio revealed that Maria’s husband and son recently became aware of this relationship and didn’t approve," Crum said.

The investigation further revealed that Torres was allegedly in the minivan with the victim early Friday morning and that the pair had pulled off the road into a dirt turnout in the 4500 block of Porter Creek Road.

"Maria got out of the Previa as Maria’s husband and son pulled over in their car alongside them," Crum said. "They fired a gun from their car into the driver side of the Previa. The victim was shot and fled out the passenger side of the Previa. He ran to the ravine where he fell and was left for dead."

Crum declined to release details about whom detectives suspect shot the victim, but alleged all three family members "acted in concert in the homicide."

Torres, her husband and son, have been booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of homicide and conspiracy and "will be held without bail," Crum said.

The victim’s identity was being withheld Saturday because his family has not yet been notified, the sergeant said.

Detectives are also still seeking to interview witnesses, according to Crum.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone