“If this isn’t an example that law enforcement never rests, I don’t know what is.  Local investigators used their resources in local and state partners and made a community much safer with four arrests, 20 firearms seized and the destruction of illegal marijuana grows.  Great job by all.”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

KERN COUNTY – On June 29, 2025, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) began investigating the murder of Marissa Tellez near Wasco. Detectives determined she was killed by four armed suspects.

On June 30, suspect Alberto Duran, 38, was identified, but later found murdered.

On July 7, KCSO arrested Aaron Olivas, 43, for murder and attempted murder, and Cynthia Murillo, 56, for accessory. A search warrant at a Wasco residence led to the seizure of 12 firearms.

On July 8, KCSO executed a large-scale search at an 80-acre compound used for marijuana cultivation and dismantling stolen vehicles. Assisting agencies included CHP, Bakersfield Police Department, California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW), Kern Animal Control, KCSO Search & Rescue, and KCSO SWAT. HIDTA eradicated four marijuana grows. KCSO detectives recovered three firearms and CHP’s KernCATT recovered two stolen vehicles.

Later that evening, HIDTA and Air Support arrested Argel Barragan, 28, near Wildwood Road. A firearm was found in his vehicle. That same night, KCSO’s Gang Suppression Unit and Rural Crime Investigations Unit served a warrant at another property, recovering two more firearms and six stolen vehicles.

On July 9, HIDTA arrested Angel Chavez, 24, in Wasco. Two additional firearms were located at his residence.

In total:

• Four arrests were made (Olivas, Murillo, Barragan, Chavez)
• 20 firearms seized
• Eight stolen vehicles recovered
• Four marijuana grows eradicated

This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact KCSO at (661) 861-3110 or Kern Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.