Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies on Friday arrested a Pajaro man for the murder of Watsonville resident Jesús Alfonso Duarte Figueroa, whose body was found buried along the Pajaro River levee in April.
Bernardino Rickie Sanchez, 61, was booked into Monterey County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail, jail records showed.
On April 10, Sheriff’s Office detectives received information that a possible body was buried along the Pajaro River levee. Detectives responded to the area and located a body. Investigators identified the man as Figueroa, and determined the incident was a homicide.
After interviewing witnesses—including members of the Pajaro River Levee homeless community—detectives arrested Sanchez, who was already in custody for unrelated drug and weapons violation.
On July 11, Sanchez was booked for additional violations of murder and unlawful disposal of human remains.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Monterey County Sheriff’s Det. Richard Geng at 831.253.6029, or Det. Sgt. James Day at 831.597.0065. Information can be provided anonymously.
