Yesenia Torres: San Bernardino Businesswoman Gunned Down In a Murder-for-Hire Plot, Enstranged Husband Arrested
She was brutally gunned down in broad daylight in front of a restaurant on January 10, 2025, according to WSAZ News
The killing has been described by authorities as a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by Torres’ estranged husband, Sergio Reveles.
The disturbing incident, captured by security cameras, reveals a chilling sequence of events that ended in Torres’ tragic death.
Also, criminal investigations have uncovered a web of deceit, financial motives, and a contentious divorce that allegedly led to this heinous crime.
Let's get into it
The Brutal Crime
On the afternoon of January 10, 2025, Yesenia Torres was leaving Burger Point, a restaurant in San Bernardino, when her life was tragically cut short.
Surveillance footage shows Torres walking to her car in the parking lot when a small SUV pulled up beside her.
A man, later identified as 31-year-old Gerardo Llamas, exited the vehicle armed with a gun.
According to CBS News, Llamas tried to take Torres' purse, leading to a harrowing struggle.
During the struggle, Torres demonstrated incredible bravery and fought back, hitting Llamas with her purse and even attempting to disarm him.
A good Samaritan rushed to help her, but Llamas opened fire, shooting nine rounds at Torres.
Despite her efforts to escape, she was brutally shot to death.
According to police reports, Llamas chased Torres around her vehicle, firing multiple shots before delivering the fatal blow when she fell on the ground.
After the brutal attack, Llamas fled the crime scene in the waiting getaway vehicle.
Police reports also revealed that the suspects had stalked her for months before this violent confrontation that ended her life.
With the suspects now in custody and facing serious charges, including murder with special circumstances, the case has taken a significant step toward justice.
Yesenia “Jessica” Torres
How Were The Killers Caught?
The criminal investigation into Torres’ murder revealed a complex web of motives and connections.
The getaway vehicle, driven by 54-year-old Arnoldo Ruelas, was later found abandoned in a Walmart parking lot.
While investigating the location where the getaway car was found, surveillance footage from nearby businesses showed that the suspects had changed their clothes and switched vehicles in a deliberate effort to avoid being caught.
This level of planning shows the premeditated nature of the crime.
According to police reports, the crime stemmed from a contentious divorce between Torres and her husband, Sergio Reveles.
Authorities allege that Reveles hired four men—Gerardo Llamas, Arnoldo Ruelas, Reynaldo Ruelas, and Juan Perez—to carry out the murder.
Initially, detectives from the local police department faced serious challenges in linking all the suspects to Torres.
However, through meticulous crime scene investigations and surveillance, they uncovered critical evidence.
Juan Perez, who was identified as a key player in the plot, ran a pallet company on a property owned by Torres and Reveles.
Also, one of Perez’s employees, Reynaldo Ruelas, was implicated in the crime.
During the investigation, authorities executed search warrants in Bakersfield and Los Angeles, seizing large sums of cash and additional firearms.
These findings supported the theory that the killing was a murder-for-hire plot.
Justice for Yesenia Torres
The arrest of the five suspects marks a significant milestone in this true crime case.
Gerardo Llamas, Arnoldo Ruelas, and Reynaldo Ruelas were apprehended on January 16, 2025, while Sergio Reveles and Juan Perez were arrested on February 13, 2025.
San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman expressed hope that the arrests would bring some measure of closure to Torres’ family and the community.
“Jessica was a pillar of our community, and her loss has been deeply felt,” Goodman said.
“I pray the efforts of our team of investigators bring some small measure of closure to the family and all those impacted by this,” he added.
According to District Attorney Jason Anderson, the suspects are being charged with murder with special circumstances, including lying in wait, financial gain, and crime committed in the commission of a robbery.
All five men are scheduled to appear in court on March 14, 2025.
The San Bernardino community continues to mourn the loss of Yesenia Torres, a woman described as “civically engaged” and “deeply respected.”
As we await the court proceedings, the community stands united in seeking justice for Yesenia Torres.
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