UPDATE: Hermiston man faces murder charge
By Terry Murry on Thursday, March 10th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
MOSES LAKE – Moses Lake Police Department detectives revealed at a news conference Thursday afternoon that they had evidence that Yanira (also reported as Yaniro) Cedillos was killed in her apartment last week and that her killer is Juan Ismael Gastelum, 27, of Hermiston. He is being charged with second-degree murder and second-degree rape.
Gastelum was arrested Wednesday evening in Hermiston following a joint investigation. He was picked up on a no-bail felony arrest warrant. At the news conference police stated they had hoped Gastelum would lead them to where the body of the victim was located. That did not happen. Capt. Mike Williams said that detectives had spent countless hours searching for her and that he hopes search warrants and the analysis of electronic data will lead them forward.
“Yanira’s family has been very supportive of our efforts and have provided very important pieces of evidence to us that have assisted in the investigation,” he said. “I would like to thank them and ask that you keep them in your prayers.”
He also explained to media why the circumstances surrounding the disappearance forced them to remain closed-lipped about the details with the media. “In this case, with these circumstances, during an ongoing investigation, it would not have been responsible for us to release information until Gastelum was in custody and Yanira’s family was briefed,” he said.
Photo of suspect provided by Moses Lake Police Department
A story about the suspect’s arrest is at https://elkhornmediagroup.com/hpd-arrests-suspect-in-missing-woman-case/
