On September 11, 2009, 52-year-old Raul Delara Ruiz was beaten to death by three men on a cannabis farm along Highway 175 in Hopland.
Two days ago, a quiet break in the case occurred in which a 30-year-old San Rafael man named Eduardo Albe Cardenas Salvarado was booked into the Mendocino County jail on charges including murder and false imprisonment.
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Captain Greg Van Patten has confirmed that Salvarado was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder that occurred over twelve years ago.
When deputies were called to that cannabis farm twelve years ago, Captain Van Patten said they found Ruiz severely injured. Ruiz died while being treated by medical personnel as a result of the injuries he sustained from the physical assault committed by the three suspects.
Detectives determined that Ruiz and the three suspects were cultivating cannabis on the property when a verbal disagreement ensued which led to the beating Ruiz and his wife. After Ruiz and his wife were beaten, the three suspects reportedly stole “a portion of the growing marijuana and fled the property,” Captain Van Patten said.
Regarding the arrest of Salvarado, Captain Van Patten said investigators had determined his connection to the crime based on physical evidence ascertained at the crime scene which he could not disclose. Based on this evidence, an arrest warrant was issued in 2011 for Salvarado’s connection to the murder.
Salvarado was arrested in Alameda County two days ago, explained Captain Van Patten, and MCSO is still working to determine the circumstances of the arrest that led to his extradition to Mendocino County.
The booking logs indicate Salvarado stands accused of murder, false imprisonment, and an additional felony related to the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime. Salvarado’s bail has been set at $600,000 and the booking logs indicate he remains in custody.
It is important to note that two other suspects associated with Ruiz’s 2009 murder are still outstanding.
Raul Delara Ruiz was 52-years-old at the time of his murder, was 5’ 9’’, and 200 pounds. His hair was black and his eyes were brown. If anyone has information regarding the murder of Ruiz, please consider contacting the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling (707) 467-9159.
With due respect to the victims of the circumstances described, it must be stated that the charges contained in the booking log have not been proven in a court of law. In accordance with the legal principle of the presumption of innocence, any individual described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Scary looking hombres! If the eyes are the windows to the soul, that is. I’d say the victim looks 10 times more cold hearted than the suspect… 👁
Mendocino County. Got cannabis, got death. The “medicine” that never fails.
Give me your tired, your poor, and your criminals. The other two are probably over here in around Valley.
Sounds pretty racist Sean.
Anyone brown and has a latin name and therefore they are immigrants?
Time to treat that advanced case of cranial rectosis