Man arrested for 2019 farmworker death in Reedley, deputies say

REEDLEY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – A man has been arrested in connection with the homicide of a 75-year-old farmworker in Reedley in 2019, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

Deputies say they arrested 29-year-old Angel Romero of Fresno. He was booked into the Fresno County Jail on suspicion of homicide, possession of cocaine for sale, and being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition.

Sheriff’s officials say around 7:30 p.m. on March 23, 2019, deputies found 75-year-old Andres Cardenas of Dinuba shot and killed. He was discovered in a plum orchard near E. Springfield and Alta Avenues in Reedley.

Cardenas had served as a farmworker for over 20 years, and the Sheriff’s Office says he was performing small jobs on his family’s ranch at the time of his death.

Investigators with the Cold Case Unit say they developed information and evidence that pointed to Romero as the shooter. An arrest warrant was then secured and Romero was arrested on Sunday in Fresno.

Detectives say they learned Romero shot Cardenas in the orchard during a robbery attempt.

Although an arrest has been made, the Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information regarding this case to contact Sheriff’s Detective Juan Galindo at 559-600-8215.

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