Second Suspect Arrested in 1998 Homicide

On Monday, October 13, 2025, at 11:43 am, Turlock Police responded to a be on the lookout near Countryside Dr and Fulkerth Rd.

Through license plate readers, officers had obtained information that a vehicle possibly associated with a homicide suspect, Jose Villa, 58, of Turlock, had just been in the area.

The homicide had occurred on Tuesday, June 2, 1998, at a residence in the 600 block of Angelus St. Alma Peralta, 19, had been shot and killed, while Jose Saucedo, 16, had been shot and wounded.

According to an affidavit written by now-retired Detective Bacca, the triplex where the crime had occurred was a “well-known drug-related location.” After receiving reports of shots fired, Turlock Police responded to the residence to immediately find Peralta down and deceased. Later, officers located Saucedo around the corner, still alive but shot and having trouble breathing.

Through the investigation, the homicide was confirmed to be drug-related, and Villa had been identified as one of the suspects, as well as Rene Mendosa, 51. Warrants had been issued for both of their arrests, charging them with murder and attempted murder.

Back in 2012, Mendosa pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to serve 11 years in state prison, while Villa remained on the run in Mexico.

Earlier this month, a dispatcher conducting a system audit discovered new information linking Villa to an updated address in the area. Based on that information, detectives immediately began coordinating follow-up efforts, leading to the license plate reader hit.

A short time later, officers located Villa getting into his vehicle along with others. A high-risk stop was conducted in front of The Home Depot in the 2800 block of Countryside Dr, where Villa was detained at gunpoint.

Villa was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on his warrant.

“This arrest represents the unwavering dedication of our officers, dispatchers, analysts, and investigators who worked together to bring closure to a case that has spanned nearly three decades,” said Public Affairs Analyst Sanchez. “The Turlock Police Department remains committed to seeking justice for victims and their families, no matter how much time has passed.”

Villa was arraigned before the Honorable Judge R. Westbrook of the Stanislaus County Superior Court the day following his arrest, and his bail was set at $2.5 million. Villa’s next court appearance is an early case management conference on Friday, November 21.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist is encouraged to call Sergeant Hernandez at 209-668-6541.