CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced September 22 that Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, an undocumented Mexican national from Yakima, Washington, admitted in Southern District of California federal court to murdering a man and his pregnant wife.
The killings occurred during a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to his plea, Madrigal-Birrueta, 22, and accomplices fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo on August 28, 2022, at a remote ranch near Yakima, then buried his body.
On September 2, Madrigal-Birrueta lured Murillo’s wife, 33-year-old Maira Hernandez, to the ranch by claiming her husband was waiting.
When the visibly pregnant Hernandez arrived, accomplices shot her in the head and buried her nearby. Her unborn child died with her.
Drug debt motive
Madrigal-Birrueta admitted the murders were tied to a drug debt owed by his accomplices to the couple. He will be sentenced March 27, 2026.
The indictment also charges Ricardo Orizaba-Zendejas as an accessory to murder and co-conspirator in the drug ring. His trial begins October 27, 2025.
San Diego seizures spark probe
Court filings say the case began with drug seizures at San Diego ports of entry in 2021. By August 2022, agents had identified a Yakima-based group. Shortly after interviewing Murillo and Hernandez, both were killed and buried at the ranch.
The charges followed a years-long probe using radar, aircraft, cadaver dogs, and other forensic tools. HSI agents, with Washington State Police, recovered the remains on September 13, 2023.
Agents also seized meth, cocaine, fentanyl, firearms — including a machine gun, and body armor from Madrigal-Birrueta’s drug ring at the Yakima ranch.
Possible death penalty
Madrigal-Birrueta faces 20 years to life in prison, or the death penalty.
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