Sheriff: Mojave Desert massacre stemmed from dispute over marijuana

The brutal slaying of six men at a remote dirt crossroads in San Bernardino County likely stemmed from a dispute over marijuana, investigators revealed on Monday in their first update since last week’s shocking discovery.

The massacre took place in the Mojave Desert about 20 miles northwest of Adelanto on Tuesday evening. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office, a man speaking Spanish called 911 to say he had been shot.

Deputies responded to the area and, with assistance from a California Highway Patrol airship, quickly located five bodies. The sixth victim was discovered the following morning.

San Bernardino County Sherrif Shannon Dicus says authorities used human and technological sources to find the suspects.

“From the moment we started this investigation, we started to receive strong leads,” Dicus said. “After I was briefed, I was quite confident that we would be able to get the subjects that were involved in this homicide into custody.”

All of the victims had been shot and four were also burned, Dicus confirmed at a news conference Monday afternoon. Three of the victims have been identified as:

• Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, 34, of Adelanto

• Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, of Hesperia

• Kevin Dariel Bonilla, 25, of Hesperia

Authorities say a fourth victim is a 45-year-old Hispanic man, they’re waiting to release his identity pending notification of next of kin. The remaining two victims were only identified as Hispanic males.

The five suspects who were arrested are:

• Toniel Baez-Duarte, 34, of Apple Valley.

• Mateo Baez-Duarte, 24, of Apple Valley

• Jose Nicolas Hernandez-Sarabia, 33, of Adelanto

• Jose Gregorio Hernandez-Sarabia, 34, of Adelanto

• Jose Manuel Burgos Parra, 26, of Adelanto

“It looks like illicit marijuana was the driving force behind these murders,” Dicus said.

Dicus pointed out that the state passing Proposition 64 has led to a burgeoning illicit marijuana market.

“The reality is Proposition 64, took illicit marijuana and moved it from a felony to a misdemeanor,” Dicus said. “The reality of this is by allowing that, we have unleashed a plague here in California. The plague is the black market or marijuana and certainly cartel activity.”

Sgt. Michael Warrick also spoke at the news conference but didn’t release any details on if this is related to the cross-border drug trade, saying, “we can’t comment on if this is cartel related or not.”

Proposition 64, also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, was a voter initiative to legalize cannabis in California in 2016. It passed with 57 percent voter approval, which led to recreational cannabis sales in the state by January 2018.

In 2010, then-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation that reduced possession of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor to a civil infraction.

Dicus added that the Shadow Mountain area, which is to the west of where the murders took place is known for illicit marijuana.

News helicopter footage showed the bodies were located around two vehicles. A dark-colored Chevrolet Trailblazer with an Oregon license plate had shattered windows and was riddled with bullet holes. Just yards away, a white Dodge Caravan minivan was undamaged.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.