SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - In a tragic turn of events, six men were found dead last week at a remote dirt crossroads in the Southern California desert. The San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials have revealed that the killings were likely the result of a dispute over marijuana. In a press conference on Monday, they announced the arrest of five men suspected to be involved in the violence.
The bodies were discovered in the Mojave Desert outside El Mirage after a distress call was made to 911. Sergeant Michael Warrick stated that all the victims appeared to have been shot to death. Four of the bodies had been partially burned, while the fifth victim was found inside a Chevy Trailblazer. The sixth body was discovered nearby a day later.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus commented on the motive behind the murders, saying, 'It looks like illicit marijuana was the driving force behind these murders.' The area where the bodies were found is known for illegal marijuana growing operations. Although the level of violence at the crime scene resembles that of a drug cartel, investigators have yet to confirm cartel involvement.
Following the discovery of the bodies, law enforcement officials executed search warrants in the Adelanto and Apple Valley areas of San Bernardino County, as well as the Pinyon Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles County. Five men, ranging in age from 24 to 34, were arrested during the operation. Additionally, eight firearms were seized. The suspects are currently in custody without bail.
Four of the victims have been identified as Baldemar Mondragon-Albarran, 34, of Adelanto; Franklin Noel Bonilla, 22, of Hesperia; Kevin Dariel Bonilla, 25, of Hesperia; and a 45-year-old man whose name is being withheld pending family notification. The remaining two victims are yet to be identified, and efforts are being made by coroner's officials to establish their identities.
The investigation reveals that Franklin Bonilla may have been the one who made the distress call to 911.
California legalized recreational marijuana in 2016, making it the world's largest legal cannabis marketplace. However, despite this, the illegal market continues to thrive. Sheriff Dicus described the black market as a 'plague' that gives rise to violence. He urged lawmakers to consider reforms in cannabis laws, aiming to maintain legalization while imposing harsher penalties for users of illegal marijuana.
Overhead footage captured by news stations last week displayed a dark blue SUV with a blown-out passenger window and an open door. The area was marked with yellow evidence markers amidst the desert landscape. Due to the remoteness of the location, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's department sought assistance from the California Highway Patrol's Aviation Division to locate the crime scene.
This incident is not the first of its kind in the region. In 2020, seven people were fatally shot at an illegal marijuana growing operation in a small town in neighboring Riverside County. The property housed more than 20 individuals and had several makeshift dwellings used for the production of honey oil, a potent cannabis concentrate.
As authorities continue their investigation into this disturbing incident, it raises concerns about the ongoing challenges posed by the illegal marijuana market and the need for stricter regulations to ensure public safety.
