Jury Convicts Two Humboldt Men in Gruesome Butte County Murders
A Butte County jury convicted two Humboldt County men of first degree murder for the killing of two young men whose burned remains were found in a vehicle near Cherokee, this case underscores cross county violence and the strain on local families and agencies. The convictions raise questions for Humboldt residents about travel safety and interagency cooperation as sentencing is set for January.
Two Humboldt County residents were convicted by a Butte County jury for the January killing of two men whose badly burned remains were discovered in a vehicle on Condor Road in the rural Cherokee area. Samuel Ashley, 43, and Wesley Evans, 45, were each found guilty of two counts of first degree murder, and the jury found a special allegation of multiple murder to be true for both defendants.
The homicide investigation began on January 30, 2025 after the remains of two men were found in the vehicle. Investigators determined Ashley and Evans had traveled with the victims from Humboldt County to Butte County. The victims were later identified through DNA samples as Juan Daniel Arreola Solano, 26, and Esequiel Velle Arellano Jr., 22.
The jury trial began on November 3 and lasted five weeks. The jury deliberated about five hours before returning guilty verdicts on December 11. Prosecutors presented testimony from 23 witnesses and more than 200 exhibits during the proceedings. Ashley and Evans remain in custody without bail and are scheduled to appear for sentencing on January 9, 2026. Each faces a possible sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Butte County leadership praised the work of investigators and prosecutors in what was described as a complex case. For Humboldt County, the case highlights the ways that violent incidents can traverse county lines and involve local residents both as victims and defendants. Families of the victims may confront extra obstacles when identification requires DNA, and the involvement of two separate counties has required extended investigative cooperation.
Community leaders and law enforcement in Humboldt County will likely be asked to explain how residents became involved in a crime discovered far from home, and what measures are being taken to prevent similar tragedies. The convictions offer some measure of accountability, but they also underscore the lasting loss for the families of the victims and the importance of cross jurisdictional communication in responding to violent crime.
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