SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — Law enforcement in Santa Clara County found human remains along Highway 9 in the Saratoga Hills this week.
San Jose police believe the body found is that of an unhoused man who had been missing since June, last seen at an encampment south of downtown San Jose.
What started with an alleged fight and a black eye, ended with one man murdered and three others in custody, facing prison time.
Juan Flores-Gonzalez, Julio Espinoza-Chavez and Miguel Cortez appeared in court for their arraignment Friday.
They are charged with murder and the conspiracy to commit felony murder of an unhoused man in San Jose.
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“This is an incredibly dangerous offense,” Santa Clara Co. Deputy District Attorney Michael Gilman said. “Obviously, we’re concerned with public safety and that’s the reason we asked for the court to hold all three of them on no bail.”
Witnesses told police that the three suspects knew the victim and Gonzalez suffered a black eye after getting involved in a fight with the victim in April. The witness recalled Gonzalez telling him that he intended to kill the man who punched him.
After months of searching for the victim, investigators say surveillance footage from June shows the suspects found him riding his bike near an encampment along Wool Creek Drive.
Here, police say Gonzalez allegedly followed through on his threat and shot and killed the man he said punched him.
“Evidence on the scene, however, made it very clear this was not a normal disappearance, as they located blood, as well as shell casings, a short distance away from the victim’s abandoned bicycle,” SJPD Sgt. Jorge Garibay said.
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The investigation continued in the Saratoga Hills along Highway 9.
Investigators believe a body was buried in the area. With the use of cadaver dogs, remains were found.
As of Friday afternoon, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s office has not identified the victim or said whether or not the body found this week is that of the man who is missing. But SJPD believes it is a match and court documents say blood found in the trunk of a vehicle driven by one of the suspects is a match for the missing victim.
Unhoused advocate Shaunn Cartwright says crimes involving this population are sometimes not taken as seriously. She applauds SJPD for their work in apprehending the suspects.
“We find that’s not always the case, in taking unhoused crime seriously — particularly violence against unhoused women,” Cartwright said. “So, we really appreciate this.”
The three men did not enter pleas in their first appearance and are due back in court on Nov. 3.
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