News

Released: August 26, 2019 - Monday, 12:40 PM

Homicide Suspect Arrested

Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 8-23-19Place of Occurrence: County JailVictim Information: Primitivo Pacheco Ortega, 20, Paso Robles/San Miguel areaSuspect Information: Fausto Ortega Maldonado, 28, Paso RoblesOn 8-26-19, Sheriff Parkinson announced an arrest has been made in the homicide of 20-year-old Primitivo Pacheco Ortega of the Paso Robles/San Miguel area.
The suspect is identified as 28-year-old Fausto Ortega Maldonado of Paso Robles.
The investigation into Pacheco Ortega's death began on 7-7-19 when the Sheriff's Office was contacted regarding a body spotted on the side of the road off of Estrella Road near Hog Canyon in rural Paso Robles. When Deputies responded to the scene, they found a deceased Hispanic male with multiple stab wounds. The victim was later identified as Primitivo Pacheco Ortega.
This was an extremely difficult case to solve. When the victim was located he had no identification on him which would indicate who he was or the circumstances surrounding his death. Detectives used fingerprint technology to eventually identify him. Over the last seven weeks, Detectives spent many hours working this case and through extensive follow-up, interviews and forensic analysis, Detectives were able to make an arrest.
"Our Detectives are dedicated. They are tenacious. And they never give up," said Sheriff Parkinson. "Through their efforts we have put a very dangerous criminal behind bars."
The suspect, Fausto Ortega Maldonado was already in County Jail on an unrelated case when Detectives arrested him on 8-23-19. Even though the suspect shares a name with the victim, the two are not related. This homicide is not gang related and is not connected to the Fuentes homicide which was solved last week.
This marks the fifth case the Sheriff's Office has cleared out of the six homicides which were committed this year:

7-7-19. Victim Primitivo Pacheco Ortega found deceased in rural Paso Robles. Case cleared with arrest of Fausto Ortega Maldonado

6-1-19. Victim Christopher Wilson stabbed to death during a fight in Shandon. Case cleared with arrest of Kejuan Bynum.

4-3-19. Victim Daniel Fuentes, Sr. shot and killed in Oceano. Case cleared with arrests of Robert Garay, Gabriel Garay, Nathaniel Jara.

3-3-19. Victims Carrington Broussard and her unborn baby. Case cleared with the arrest of Daniel Johnson.

1-24-19. Victim Lawrence Bross found deceased inside his Oceano home. Case active.