Woman is 9th suspect in Santa Maria homicide

The Santa Maria Police Department said it has arrested a ninth person that is connected with Anthony Ibarra’s death.

On Monday, Verenisa Castillo Aviles, 19, a resident of Santa Maria, was arrested and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on a no-bail warrant.

Aviles is charged with murder and gang enhancement. She has had additional charges added to her from a separate crime that occurred Tuesday.

Police found Ibarra’s body in the back of a moving truck in March. Suspects Ramon Maldonado, Reyes Gonzalez, Santos Sauceda, Anthony Solis, Robert Sosa and David Maldonado are all charged with murder with enhancements.

Two other suspects, Carmen Cardenas and Pedro Torres, have been charged with accessory to murder after it was committed.