Times Staff | Posted: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 12:00 am
The death of 23-year-old Adan Ruiz, whose body was discovered Sept. 17 just off Highway 154, is linked to the massive marijuana farm found just days later outside Lompoc, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.
Investigators say both are part of a larger narcotics organization.
Nine suspects were questioned and were found to be undocumented immigrants, officials said. They were turned over to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Brown said.
Additionally, five people from Perris, in Riverside County, have been arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sales and are being questioned about possible involvement in Ruiz?s death.
The five suspects were booked into Santa Barbara County Jail and were identified as: Jesus Monje Gutierrez, Efren Equijua Arreola, Servando Avalos Cabrera, Reyes Cervantes Ruiz, and Jose Juan Villa Cabrera.
Reyes Ruiz is the victim?s brother, officials said, and is thought to have been present during the homicide.