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Man sought in Willcox-area killing nabbed
By Carol Broeder & Ainslee S. Wittig/Wick Communications/Arizona Range News
A man sought in a Willcox-area homicide investigation is in custody.
The U.S. Border Patrol says a Willcox-based agent drove up behind a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 10 Tuesday to run a license plate check, and the driver sped off westbound.
The agent found the Honda Civic abandoned a short time later along the I-10 frontage road about 7 miles away.
Several hours later, agents arrested Israel Otero Morales of Willcox near the interstate a few miles west of where the Honda was found. He was booked on a warrant issued in connection with the death of a 43-year-old man whose body was found June 3 alongside a road north of Willcox
Two Willcox men and a Bowie man were arrested previously in case.
The victim in a Willcox-area murder has been identified as 43-year-old Patrick William Gleason, of Willcox.
Two Willcox men and a Bowie man are in custody in connection with the homicide that took place in the early morning hours Tuesday.
Another Willcox man is being sought for questioning.
John Edward Romero, 36, of Willcox and Jonathan Arthur Ramil, 19, of Bowie, are both charged with first degree murder, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence, said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
Fernando Vasquez, 19, of Willcox, is charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Initial appearances were held for Romero, Ramil and Vasquez at the Willcox Justice Court Wednesday morning with Judge Trevor Ward.
Ramil and Romero are each being held on a $2 million cash bond, with preliminary hearings set for Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m., if they remain in custody, or Tuesday, June 24 at 10 a.m., if they are not in custody.
Vasquez is being held on $200,000 secured bond, and a preliminary hearing is also set for Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m., if he remains in custody, or Tuesday, June 24 at 10 a.m., if he is not in custody.
Israel Otero, 27, of Willcox, is still being sought for questioning. He may be headed to the Tucson area and should be considered armed and dangerous, Capas said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 1-800-362-0812.
The sheriff's office received a call at 2:55 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, about a body off the side of Fort Grant Road, eight miles north of Willcox.
A Willcox woman said that a male subject possibly had been carjacked and was lying in the road, but it was unknown if he was still breathing.
"His girlfriend (name removed) is in town and told the person reporting that the subjects who did this told her if she reported it they would go after her and her child," the sheriff's log said.
Initial investigation by the sheriff's office, with the assistance of the Willcox Department of Public Safety, revealed that Gleason had suffered trauma that was obviously intentional resulting in death, Capas said.
Further investigation throughout the day led to two separate search warrants being conducted at Willcox homes, with the assistance of the sheriff's office SWAT Team.
Three subjects were taken into custody Tuesday.
This incident is believed to be drug related and additional arrests are pending, Capas said.
The sheriff's department is continuing its investigation.
The U.S. Border Patrol says a Willcox-based agent drove up behind a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 10 Tuesday to run a license plate check, and the driver sped off westbound.
The agent found the Honda Civic abandoned a short time later along the I-10 frontage road about 7 miles away.
Several hours later, agents arrested Israel Otero Morales of Willcox near the interstate a few miles west of where the Honda was found. He was booked on a warrant issued in connection with the death of a 43-year-old man whose body was found June 3 alongside a road north of Willcox
Two Willcox men and a Bowie man were arrested previously in case.
The victim in a Willcox-area murder has been identified as 43-year-old Patrick William Gleason, of Willcox.
Two Willcox men and a Bowie man are in custody in connection with the homicide that took place in the early morning hours Tuesday.
Another Willcox man is being sought for questioning.
John Edward Romero, 36, of Willcox and Jonathan Arthur Ramil, 19, of Bowie, are both charged with first degree murder, hindering prosecution, and tampering with physical evidence, said Carol Capas, spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.
Fernando Vasquez, 19, of Willcox, is charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Initial appearances were held for Romero, Ramil and Vasquez at the Willcox Justice Court Wednesday morning with Judge Trevor Ward.
Ramil and Romero are each being held on a $2 million cash bond, with preliminary hearings set for Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m., if they remain in custody, or Tuesday, June 24 at 10 a.m., if they are not in custody.
Vasquez is being held on $200,000 secured bond, and a preliminary hearing is also set for Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m., if he remains in custody, or Tuesday, June 24 at 10 a.m., if he is not in custody.
Israel Otero, 27, of Willcox, is still being sought for questioning. He may be headed to the Tucson area and should be considered armed and dangerous, Capas said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 1-800-362-0812.
The sheriff's office received a call at 2:55 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3, about a body off the side of Fort Grant Road, eight miles north of Willcox.
A Willcox woman said that a male subject possibly had been carjacked and was lying in the road, but it was unknown if he was still breathing.
"His girlfriend (name removed) is in town and told the person reporting that the subjects who did this told her if she reported it they would go after her and her child," the sheriff's log said.
Initial investigation by the sheriff's office, with the assistance of the Willcox Department of Public Safety, revealed that Gleason had suffered trauma that was obviously intentional resulting in death, Capas said.
Further investigation throughout the day led to two separate search warrants being conducted at Willcox homes, with the assistance of the sheriff's office SWAT Team.
Three subjects were taken into custody Tuesday.
This incident is believed to be drug related and additional arrests are pending, Capas said.
The sheriff's department is continuing its investigation.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of willcoxrangenews.com.
Tina S. wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:05 AM:
" First of all, I wanted to say "thanks" for posting this case on the internet! Second, I just wanted to let all know that I hope that ALL that are responsible for Patrick's death pay dearly for what they did. They left 2 daughters w/o a father!!! "
Dawna wrote on Jul 10, 2008 12:07 PM:
" No matter what has gone on in life........no one deserves this!!! I only wish comfort and peace for the family. "
unknow wrote on Mar 26, 2009 12:15 AM:
" worte on march 25 , 2009 I am so thankfull for posting this case. I was schocked when i seen this add about my couiesn J Ramil , my heart gose out to Glesons family and i will keep tham in my prayers, I am so sorry but I know that Jonathan Arthur Ramil could never murder any one , could he be gulty of helping get rid of evidence yes he could be i dont know, my love one was murderd to so belive me my heart gose out to the Glesons family and girlfriend. "
Loretta Gleason wrote on Jun 12, 2008 5:52 PM: