Jose Antonio Barajas appeared for a pre-trial hearing before San Benito County Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders on May 23, but action was delayed until June 13 at 9 a.m. for a trial-setting conference. Barajas faces a charge of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder, as well as two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Barajas is accused of killing 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas on Aug. 1, 2014. With help from unknown individuals, Barajas evaded apprehension and fled to Mexico. He was captured in Guadalajara in July 2018 and extradited and flown to San Jose. He was incarcerated at the San Benito County Jail, where he has been held without bail.
On April 15, deputies with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office presented hearsay testimony from eyewitnesses at the scene where they claimed Barajas fired gunshots from a moving vehicle at another in which Zendejas was a passenger in the back seat. The driver of the car Zendejas was in took her to Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital. She died while being transported by helicopter to another hospital.
The Hollister Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding the person who picked up Barajas and Flores-Ibarra at the Immaculate Conception Church in Tres Pinos, or any other aspect of the case, please call the department at (831) 636-4330.
Other related BenitoLink articles:
Murder suspect Barajas back in court
Jose Barajas held without bail, pleads not guilty to murder and other crimes
Jose Barajas appointed public defender, no bail
Jose Barajas arraigned on murder and six other felonies
Suspected killer of Ariana Zendejas arrested in Mexico, deported to U.S.
Police say they’re still seeking murder suspect
Jose Barajas appointed public defender, no bail
Police seek Hollister man on murder charges
Murder victim identified as 19-year-old Hollister woman
