Success Stories
- California: Client charged with Disorderly Conduct and Obstruction of justice after being beaten by police – CASE DISMISSED
- Indiana: Client charged with felony theft charge for allegedly stealing from a department store – CHARGES DROPPED
- Virginia: Client charged with being an accessory to shoplifting on a US military base – CHARGES DISMISSED
- Florida: 14 year-old client accused of molesting his 4 year-old adopted sister – CHARGES DISMISSED
Merced Woman Murdered in Drug Feud
Livingston, Merced County: Five people have been arrested for their involvement in the murder of Rosa Avina, a woman from Livingston who was allegedly killed over $750 worth of illegal drugs.
Four people are being charged with murder, while one other is charged as an accessory in the October 24th murder in which Avina was brutally killed by being bound, gagged, and burned alive. It is presumed that the woman was killed out of revenge for a prior incident where Avila stole marijuana and 1/8 of an ounce of methamphetamine. According to Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin, the victim was persuaded to go to a house in Turlock where perpetrators orchestrated a false home invasion. Avila was then tied up and restrained, then transported to a remote location on South Avenue in Ballico, where she was covered in flammable liquid and set on fire.
Avina survived the flames and almost walked a full mile before losing consciousness. Tragically, she passed away 48 hours later at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s burn unit. Pazin also claims that Avina had met her attackers only a few short weeks before her murder, but the act of stealing from these drug traffickers was enough to want her killed.
Alvaro Montanez Reyes, Omar Cebrero, Luis Valencia, and Urbano Ortega were all charged with First Degree Murder, Torture, Kidnapping, Mayhem, and Criminal Conspiracy for alleged involvement in Avila’s brutal homicide. Renulfo Ortega, the fifth man, is charged with Criminal Conspiracy and Accessory to murder. Authorities have labeled these five men as participants involved in a mid-level narcotics trafficking organization that lacks central leadership.
Pazin claims that the home invasion was planned to simply get Avila out of the area and kidnap her. This process points to a premeditated plan to take the life of Rosa Avila. The increasing drug trade that can be seen in Merced County is making its way into other areas, such as Stanislaus County and even Fresno. Avila’s murder is one of a few cases in the area as of recent in which the victim was set on fire.