Murder-for-Hire Plot Shakes San Bernardino
Yesenia "Jessica" Torres left a San Bernardino, California, restaurant on Jan. 10, 2025, coffee in hand, when a gunman suddenly jumped her. What looked like a robbery quickly unraveled into something far darker. Authorities say her estranged husband, Sergio Reveles, allegedly plotted her execution in a murder-for-hire scheme fueled by a bitter divorce battle over millions.
A Struggle for Survival
Surveillance footage captured the chilling attack. Torres, 44, walked to her Mercedes-Benz SUV as a dark-colored Ford Escape pulled forward, blocking her exit. A man, later identified as Gerardo Llamas Torres, stepped out — gun in hand — and grabbed her purse. Instead of surrendering, Torres fought. She threw her coffee and lunged for the gun. A bystander ran to help but backed off when the gunman turned on him.
Shots rang out. Wounded, Torres ran for the restaurant, but the killer followed, firing again. She collapsed in the doorway, dead.
A 'Robbery' That Didn't Add Up
At first, investigators suspected a botched robbery. But something felt off. Surveillance footage revealed Llamas Torres and getaway driver Arnaldo Ruelas had stalked Torres for months. That morning, they trailed her from home to a business and then to Burger Point. Within four hours, detectives traced the Ford Escape to a Walmart parking lot, where the suspects had ditched it before switching vehicles and clothes.
A Murder a Year in the Making
On Jan. 16, 2025, police arrested Llamas Torres, 31, and Ruelas, 54. But the case didn't stop there. "Further investigation uncovered a deeper conspiracy," the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office said in a statement, according to PEOPLE.
On Feb. 13, 2025, three more men landed behind bars: Reynaldo Ruelas, 37, who allegedly served as the go-between for the hired shooters and the mastermind; Juan Perez, 42, Reveles' business partner; and finally, Sergio Reveles, 53, the man authorities say ordered the hit on his wife.
A Trail of Money and Motive
Reveles and Torres, prominent business owners, built a real estate empire, including a pallet company and medical office. But their divorce turned ugly. Investigators believe the murder was a financial power play.
During searches of the suspects' homes, police uncovered $286,000 in cash, suspected to be payment for the hit. "There was never a general threat to the community, as we learned very quickly that these criminals targeted this victim in a murder-for-hire scheme that was stemming from a contentious divorce from one of the suspects, Sergio Reveles," San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman said, according to The Sun.
A Case That Shook the Community
Torres' murder rattled the San Bernardino business world. She was known for civic engagement, philanthropy, and business acumen. Her death felt like an execution, a stark contrast to the life she built. District Attorney Jason Anderson summed up the case: "You could sense all along that there had to be more to the story. We believe that we have encapsulated the entire story," as reported by The Sun.
The Road to Justice
All five men pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, conspiracy, and robbery. Prosecutors also charged them with special circumstances, including murder for financial gain, lying in wait, and murder committed during a robbery — charges that could lead to the death penalty. They remain behind bars without bail, awaiting their next court date on March 14, 2025.
The investigation moved fast, but for Torres' loved ones, justice can never come quickly enough. A woman who fought for her life in a parking lot now leaves behind a legacy cut short by greed and betrayal.
References: She Was Shot Outside a Restaurant, and It Looked Like a Robbery. The Truth Was Far More Sinister, Cops Claim | 5 men charged in San Bernardino murder-for-hire scheme
