Three people were charged with first-degree murder Monday in connection to a dead body found in the trunk of a burning car last month.
Sheila Renee Starr, Antonio Cordell Mendoza and Michael Anthony Shields of Oklahoma City have been charged with first-degree murder, third-degree arson, conspiracy to commit a felony and desecrating a human corpse for the purpose of impeding or prohibiting detection, an Oklahoma County Court probable cause affidavit stated. Though the alleged crime took place in Cleveland County, all three suspects will be prosecuted in Oklahoma County.
Norman Police officer Justin Wishon stated in the affidavit that the victim, Julian Ramirez Cazares, went to visit Starr at her house Nov. 15.
“She invited him in and offered him a beer,” Wishon stated. “Mendoza then abruptly began to assault the victim inside the residence. The victim fell to the floor and all three assaulted the victim by punching, kicking and choking him.”
Wishon stated after assaulting Cazares, the three placed him in the trunk of his own car. He later stated Starr drove Cazares’ vehicle while Shields rode in the car behind her with Mendoza.
Wishon stated Mendoza told him that he stopped and filled up a gas can before continuing into Cleveland County with Shields and Starr.
“Mendoza advised that he poured the gasoline on the body and inside the vehicle,” Wishon stated. “Starr advised that she lit the lid of a cigarette pack and threw it into the vehicle to start the fire. [They] then got into Mendoza’s vehicle and left the area.”
Wishon stated the three suspects each confessed to their own roles in the action that night.
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survivorcouple 2 years, 5 months ago
As a family member of murder victim Jennifer Sipes, I am very pleased that murderers will no longer escape punishment for burning, mutilating, or desecrating their victim's bodies. I am so glad our state now has "Jenny's Law". My prayers are with the family of Julian Ramirez Cazares.