Ninth person arrested in connection with Anthony Trejo’s brutal killing

Nine people have been charged in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Anthony Trejo who police said was beaten to death, then dismembered and left in the Northeast El Paso desert.

George Bonales, 35, was caught in the Los Angeles area Wednesday by the U.S. Marshal’s Service.

He is charged with Tampering with Evidence and his bond was set at $10,000. He is awaiting transfer to El Paso.

Trejo was reported missing September 12. Police list the date of the homicide as September 19.
His disappearance was a mystery until El Paso Police uncovered details during a SWAT standoff as officers served unrelated criminal warrants.

In the home, police said they found evidence that linked both Roberto Favela and Romuldo Trujillo to Trejo’s death.

Court documents obtained by ABC-7 contain grisly details about the murder from witnesses.

One of the witnesses reported to El Paso police Favela allegedly admitted to murdering Trejo. The witness told police Favela hit Trejo in the head with a metal dumbbell. Favela was wearing the victim’s watch at the time of his arrest, investigators said.

A second witness reported seeing Trejo being assaulted by Favela, Trujillo and a third man. The victim was reportedly wrapped in a cloth, bound with electrical wires, taken and dumped in Mexico, but that last part proved to be false as Trejo’s remains were found in the desert.

A third witness reported seeing Trejo being stepped on. The witness saw blood on the carpet afterwards that was allegedly cleaned up by the defendants.

Another person arrested reportedly told investigators Trejo’s name was on a La Linea drug cartel hit list, and it was Erlinda Lujan who allegedly gave the order Trejo was to be “taken out as trash” along with other alleged drug users, according to court documents.

Witnesses told investigators they were afraid of retaliation and said Favela has been known to carry and threaten people with a machete and has possible connections to drug trafficking organizations.

So far, four suspects are charged with murder and four more face Tampering with Evidence charges.

Here is the list of the suspects:

Roberto Favela, 33 – Murder, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Romuldo Trujillo, 41 – Murder, Unauthorized use of a Motor Vehicle Steven Ramirez, 29 – Murder Erlinda Lujan, 36 – Murder Michael Aceto, 34 – Tampering with Evidence – Northeast El Paso Adrian Herrera, 20 – Arrested on Probation Violation of Burglary, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon – Mexico Phillip Esquer, 40 – Tampering with Evidence Elvira Maria Navarrete, 52 – Tampering with Evidence George Bonales, 35 – Tampering with Evidence

Police have not released the mug shots of all defendants because doing so may compromise the ongoing investigation, they said.

Desiree Trejo, Antony’s sister, said his murder has changed the lives of those close to him. He left behind three daughters, ages 12, 11 and 6 years old.

“My family is taking it hard, all the kids, everyone is, even his friends,” she said.