MADERA - Following a months-long investigation, Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested two suspects for a February homicide on Avenue 9 in Madera County. Alan Gustavo Mendez has been charged with murder in the first degree. Bridy Juletzi Cruz Arzate has been charged as an accessory to murder.
On February 1, 2019 shortly before 8:00AM, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service reporting a possible deceased individual located near an abandoned house in the 21000 block of Avenue 9 in Madera County. Deputies located a deceased male Hispanic adult, later identified as Sergio Lopez, a 30 year old South Gate, CA resident. Due to the nature of Lopez’s injuries, MCSO Detectives classified his death as a homicide. Detectives and CSI technicians recovered evidence from the scene and initiated an investigation.
During the course of the investigation, detectives took possession of Lopez’s vehicle from a tow yard in Fresno County, where it had been impounded by CHP following an abandoned vehicle service. After processing evidence recovered from the vehicle, detectives identified a possible suspect, as well as a potential accomplice who they believed disposed of evidence after the commission of the crime.
On July 30, 2019, the Madera County District Attorney’s Office charged Alan Gustavo Mendez, a 25 year old Caruthers resident, with murder in the first degree, and Bridy Juletzi Cruz Arzate, a 22 year old Caruthers resident, with accessory to murder.
MCSO Detectives took both Mendez and Cruz Arzate into custody and booked them in at the Madera County Department of Corrections on August 15, 2019.
MCSO would like to extend our gratitude to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California Department of Justice, and California Highway Patrol for their assistance in the investigation and arrest of Alan Mendez and Bridy Cruz Arzate. This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770.
