- Moses Lake, WA
The Moses Lake Police Department has confirmed the finding of Yanira Cedillos’s remains in a remote section of Walla Walla County on Thursday May, 12th. Cedillos has been missing since March 4, 2022.
According to the department MLPD detectives received information on some updated cell phone data from the suspect’s cell phone. Detectives learned of a remote area in Walla Walla County, off Hwy 12 just outside of Wallula Junction (6 miles north of Oregon and 26 miles east of Kennewick) in which the suspect’s cell phone was tracked for several minutes the morning that Yanira was reported missing. When a probable location was confirmed authorities were called and found a woman in a sleeping bag covered with tree limbs and leaves.
The Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol Crime Lab, and the Walla Walla County Coroner were called to assisted in processing the crime scene. At the time the female was found, detectives were unable to conclusively identify her as Yanira. The body was transported to the Spokane County Medical Examiner and an autopsy was performed on Monday, May 16th.
According to MLPD the cell phone information was provided by ZETX Advancing Justice, a private business that assists with cell phone investigations.
This morning the Spokane County Medical Examiner was able to positively identify the body as Yanira Cedillos. In a press release MLPD stated that
“Detectives will now focus on working with the Grant County Prosecutor’s Office to obtain a conviction in this horrific incident.”
Gastelum remains held in Oregon at the Umatilla County, Oregon jail and is still pending extradition back to Washington where he will be booked at the Grant County in Ephrata to await trial. He is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree rape.
“Our thoughts and prayers got out to Yanira’s family and friends, although the outcome is not what anyone wanted, it brings us comfort that we were able to find Yanira and bring her back to her family.” MLPD stated.
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