Two men arrested after two bodies found in burned vehicle on Northern California rural road
Detectives arrested two Humboldt County men on homicide charges a few weeks after authorities found two bodies with gunshot wounds inside a burned car along a Northern California rural road.
Wesley Laverne Evans, 45, of Rio Dell and Samuel Terry Ashley, 43, of Ferndale were arrested on suspicion of homicide in the deaths of Juan Daniel Arreola-Solano, 26, of Eureka and Esequiel Valle-Arellano, 22, of San Diego, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday in a news release.
Sheriff’s detectives and Cal Fire law enforcement investigators investigated the deaths of the two men after their bodies were found just west of Lake Oroville.
The detectives determined Arreola-Solano and Valle-Arellano traveled from Humboldt County to Oroville on the morning of Jan. 30. Sheriff’s officials said detectives found evidence that showed Evans and Ashley traveled with the victims to Oroville.
The detectives also found evidence that showed Ashley and at least one of the victims were involved in a dispute over a recent gun and drug transaction, along with evidence that the four men traveled to the area of Condor and Red Tape roads after arriving in Oroville that same day, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Shortly after the four men arrived on Condor Road, the two victims were slain, sheriff’s officials said.
The victims’ vehicle was then set on fire. Sheriff’s officials said Evans and Ashley fled from the scene after the fire started and eventually made their way back to Humboldt County.
Deputies and Cal Fire firefighters on Jan. 30 responded to a report of a burned vehicle before they found Arreola-Solano and Valle-Arellano inside the burned vehicle.
Authorities used DNA analysis to identify the victims. A forensic pathologist conducted autopsies on both men and determined Arreola-Solano and Valle-Arellano died as a result of gunshot wounds.
Detectives worked with the Butte County District Attorney’s Office to obtain arrest warrants for Evans and Ashley. On Feb. 10, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, with help from Butte County and Cal Fire law enforcement investigators, arrested Evans and Ashley in Humboldt County.
The Humboldt County SWAT Team also served search warrants at the homes of Evans and Ashley. Evans and Ashley on Friday were booked at the Butte County Jail, where they remained in custody Tuesday.
