Arrest made in 2008 murder of 14-year-old girl

Bob Story
November 25, 2009

Yesterday (Tuesday) the Violent Crimes Task Force arrested Jesus Fabian Perales, 22, in connection with the murder of Francisca Hernandez-Ramirez.

She was reported missing Oct. 20, 2008. The 14-year-old's body was discovered last February in the Yakima River near Prosser.

Hernandez-Ramirez's death was determined to be a homicide and initially, Miguel Flores, 18, was being sought by authorities as a person of interest.

Stew Graham, Chief of Detectives with the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, said the investigation revealed Hernandez-Ramirez was killed after a party in Outlook. Her body was later dumped in a canal and discovered Feb. 6, 2009 in the Yakima River.

Perales was identified as a suspect in her murder earlier this year, but he was believed to have left Washington state.

Late last week the Violent Crimes Task Force developed information that indicated he had returned to the Yakima Valley.

He was located and arrested yesterday in Outlook and is being held on pending charges of first degree murder at the Yakima County Jail. A preliminary hearing for Perales will be held in Yakima County Superior Court today. In addition to the murder charge, the Yakima County Prosecutor's Office is seeking charges of drug possession.

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