HPD arrests suspect in missing woman case

By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 10th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories

HERMISTON – Hermiston Police Department detectives have arrested Juan Ismael Gastilum, 27, of Hermiston. He is a suspect in the case of a missing woman in Moses Lake. Yaniro Cedillos was celebrating her 30^th birthday when she was noticed to be missing from Papa’s Casino on March 3.

Media reports form Moses Lake said one witness saw her leaving the restaurant with her ex-boyfriend. Friends and relatives reported that Juan Gastilum had allegedly struck Cedillos and she had a restraining order filed against him.

Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston says that several detectives from Washington were actively involved in the search for the suspect along with several HPD officers. He was taken into custody by a uniformed HPD sergeant and a plain-clothes detective, initially for driving while suspended.

The nationwide felony arrest warrant for Gastilum was signed and issued Wednesday out of Washington state. He was booked into Umatilla County Jail at 6:30 p.m. and is being held as a fugitive without bail.

Photo: Yaniro Cedillos