Family arrested on suspicion of murder

A husband, wife and son were arrested Friday in Lake County on suspicion of working together to kill the wife’s lover on a rural Sonoma County Road, sheriff’s officials said today.

Deputies arrested 40-year-old Clearlake woman Maria Torres, 40-year-old Rene Martinez Sr. and 20-year-old Rene Martinez Jr. on suspicion of homicide and conspiracy.

The alleged offenses unfolded early in the morning Friday when Torres was with her lover in a Toyota Previa on a dirt turnout in the 4500 block of Porter Creek Road.

Torres allegedly got out of the van as her husband and son pulled up alongside it in another vehicle.

Shots were fired into the Toyota.

The victim was hit and got out of the van on the passenger side and ran into a ravine where he fell and died.

At about 8:30 a.m. California Highway Patrol officials call Sonoma County sheriff’s officials because officers came across a suspicious vehicle on Porter Creek Road.

The vehicle reportedly had bullet holes in it and blood was on the inside and outside of the vehicle.

Deputies arrived just before 9 a.m. and found the Toyota with its windows shot out and bullet holes in the driver’s side.

They searched the area and found the body of a Hispanic man in his 30s in a ravine nearby.

Sheriff’s officials said evidence inside the Toyota led detectives to a motel in Santa Rosa where they were able to get information allegedly linking the victim to Torres.

Deputies then went to Lake County where they interviewed Torres, her husband and son. During the interviews they learned that Torres had allegedly been in a romantic relationship with the victim.

Sheriff’s officials are not saying yet who shot man. His name is not being released until his family is told.

Bay City News

Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. © 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.