Suspected Drug Trafficker Charged with Double Homicide in Witness Killing Case

A 22-year-old man is accused of murdering two potential witnesses, including a pregnant woman, to prevent their testimony in a San Diego federal court.

Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, 22, faces charges for the murder of Cesar Armando Murillo, 44, Maira Sofia Hernandez, 33, and Hernandez's unborn child.
The victims were interviewed by Homeland Security agents as part of a drug trafficking investigation before being found dead in Washington state.
Prosecutors allege Madrigal-Birrueta led a drug trafficking organization smuggling narcotics from Mexico to San Diego.
Ricardo Orizaba, 21, has been charged as an accessory after the fact to murder, with both suspects detained pending trial.
The murders are described as an assault on the justice system, aimed at silencing witnesses and instilling fear.