Three Suspects Are Charged With Couple's Murder, Three Years After They Mysteriously Disappeared

Three men have been arrested for the murder of a California couple who mysteriously disappeared in 2017.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrest of Manuel Rios, 28; Abraham Fregoso, 32; and Jesus Ruiz Jr., 41, Saturday after authorities said they had received information during their investigation into the disappearance of Audrey Moran and Jonathon Reynoso that led to the suspects, according to a release from the department.

All three have been charged with murder, although it’s not clear what led investigators to believe the couple is no longer alive.

Abraham Fregoso, Manuel Rios and Jesus Ruiz Jr. Photo: Riverside Sheriff’s Department

Moran, 26, and Reynoso, 28, disappeared the night of May 10, 2017 after Moran had gotten off work from Extra Space Storage in Bermuda Dunes, according to local station KESQ. She had briefly stopped by her sister’s home around 8 p.m. before leaving to go pick up her boyfriend from an unknown location.

Family members said Reynoso had been returning from a trip with friends, the Palm Springs Desert Sun reports.

Later that night, Moran’s sister received a selfie of the couple at Reynoso’s Palm Desert home, but authorities later said the photo had not been taken the same day it was sent.

Two days later, on May 12, police found Moran’s car on the side of the westbound lane of Interstate 10 in Beaumont. Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry or a struggle.

The sheriff’s department did not provide any details about what led them to the suspects after more than three years since the couple disappeared.

“This investigation is still on going and the public is still encouraged to call the tip line with any helpful leads,” authorities said.

Oxygen.com reached out the sheriff’s department; however, a spokesperson declined to provide any additional details about the case.

All three suspects have been booked into the Riverside County Jails.