Mar 1, 2023 Rony Castaneda Ramirez, left, and Josue Castaneda Ramirez were arrested on suspicion of murder on Sunday, police say. Esther, who has an 11-year-old daughter from an earlier relationship, went ahead with her nursing test Tuesday because, she said, her husband had urged her to fulfill her dream. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Melgoza's funeral costs. Then something changed, 7 hospitalized after driver in stolen car runs red light in San Bernardino, police say, Barstow police investigating after officer caught on video hitting man with a baton, Northern California town on edge after second fatal stabbing in a week, Man found guilty of murdering teens who ding-dong-ditched his house, Sacramento, San Francisco mayors take shots at each others city before NBA playoff game. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Chino police say two brothers identified as Rony and Josue Castaeda Ramirez came to the reception uninvited. Chino Police identified brothers Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez, 19, both of Chino, Calif., as suspects in the beating death of Joe Steven Melgoza on Dec. 15, 2019. They entered not guilty pleas in court on Tuesday. Two men who police said crashed a wedding and then beat the groom to death have been charged with murder. Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez, 28, Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez, 19 (Chino Police Department) CHINO, CALIFORNIA: Only a few hours after a California couple exchanged their wedding vows, two brothers crashed the reception and beat the groom to death using baseball bats, according to authorities. CHINO (CBSLA) Two brothers have been arrested in the beating death of a groom at his own wedding reception in the early morning hours Sunday in Chino. Witnesses say the two brothers were at the reception late apparently looking for free alcohol when they were asked to leave. Low near 50F. "I know he wanted me to pass because he worked so hard." WebRony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his 19-year-old brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez were arrested and booked into West Valley Detention Center after allegedly killing Melgoza, who had been married hours earlier, was taken to Chino Valley Medical Center, where he died, Tomicic said. Ruben Castaneda - Wikipedia Do you want to read more articles like this? Two wedding crashers accused of killing a groom have been arrestedbut their motive? Officers canvassed the area and found him a block away, police said. ABC News could not reach attorneys for either Ramirez brother. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. I hope they know they destroyed our lives they killed a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and an honest, good man, Esther Melgoza said. The two brothers were arrested and booked for murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 24. Melgoza also leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter. "We want justice for my brother and I hope these two individuals never see the light of day," he said. "Today I passed my first semester," Esther said. After a search of the neighborhood, officers found Joe Melgoza, 30, in the backyard of a home on 17th Street suffering from blunt force trauma to his head. for 365 days, Free (Chino Police Department), Joe and Esther Melgoza in an undated photo (Courtesy photo), to help raise money for Melgoza's funeral. "I tried to fight with all my power not to do anything but I had to get my words in.". There was no word on a motive in the killing. CHINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Friends and family are mourning a 30-year-old Chino man who police say was brutally attacked and killed by two wedding crashers just hours after he got married. The two did not know Melgoza and were not invited to the wedding. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Melgoza's funeral costs. Armed with a search warrant, Chino police investigators went to a home in the 5800 block of Chino Avenue where they arrested the two brothers without incident. Biologist Valeria Ramrez Castaeda decodes species evolution in We use cookies. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Plaschke: Lakers live up to their legacy with a close-out win for the ages, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, L.A. Affairs: I had my reasons for not dating white men. CHINO, Calif. -- Friends and family are mourning a 30-year-old Chino man who police say was brutally attacked and killed by two wedding crashers just hours after he got married. Witnesses say the pair wanted free alcohol at the reception and got physical when asked to leave. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Up until that time, friends described the ceremony and reception as a wonderful, happy start to what was to be a new life for Melgoza and his bride. They began searching for Melgoza after hearing from witnesses that another victim was missing. Joe's bride Esther - now his widow - was there. Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. "They're a clean-cut family. The suspects, 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and his 19-year-old brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez, were arrested later that afternoon at their home. Motorcyclist in Redwood City dies after car crash, Tornado flips cars, damages homes in coastal Florida city, Texas mass shooting suspect could be anywhere, sheriff says, Major crash closes stretch of Blacow Road in Fremont, They said it: Nowhere for the water to go. They returned on a trail behind the house at about 2 a.m., authorities said, armed with baseball bats and antagonized the victim and then egged him on to jump over to their side of the fence. Investigators were soon led to the two brothers, who live just down the block from the reception. Murdered on their wedding day Biologist Valeria Ramrez Castaeda decodes species evolution in Relatives held a vigil to honor Melgoza Tuesday night. They returned with baseball bats and are suspected of injuring two people and Mr. Melgoza. Prosecutors say two brothers beat 30-year-old Joe Melgoza to death right after his wedding reception in Chino on Dec. 15. Dustin Tomicic told ABC News the suspects were not invited guests at the wedding and had been asked to leave at some point. Melgoza also has an 11-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. "Joe was a loving son, brother, father, cousin, partner, family member and friend. "Come 4:00 all the guests came from the church and it was joy, just pure happiness.". Two brothers who live in the neighborhood, later identified as 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and 19-year-old Josue Castaneda Ramirez, are accused of "Joe was just trying to protect the family, and that's who he was," said a tearful Melissa Bustamante, Esther's younger sister. Five more Bay Area MS-13 members sentenced in massive RICO case Two of them suffered minor injuries but Melgoza was found about a block away in a yard and later died. NBA playoffs: When will the Warriors-Lakers series start? The two brothers, Rony Castenada, and Josue Castenada, arrived at the party uninvited on Dec. 14, 2019, authorities said. They allegedly returned with baseball bats and beat the groom, 30-year-old Joe Steven Melgoza, to within an inch of his life. This is the exact replica of our weekly printed paper. Anyone with additional information about the case can contact Criminal Investigations Bureau Sgt. Although this conviction can never undo the pain caused by two individuals actions, I hope it brings a measure of closure to the wife and loved ones of Joe Melgoza, San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said in a statement. Authorities are continuing to investigate what prompted the two men to show up at the party and what sparked the fight. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. The Castaneda Ramirez brothers are being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. Melgoza suffered blunt force trauma to his head and was transported to a hospital, where he died, according to police. He was there for you at anytime to give a helping hand," the GoFundMe page stated. At one point, he said he couldnt take it anymore. Signup today! NBC News notes the Castenadas were asked to leave, but they returned with baseball bats, after which an altercation ensued in which Melgoza was beaten to death. NBC4 was not allowed inside the courtroom, but Melgozas family related that there were some fireworks between them and the accused attackers. Joe Steven Melgoza, 30, of Chino, was found in the 13200 block of 17th Street after police responded at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday regarding a fight. Melgoza suffered blunt force trauma to his head and was transported to a hospital, where he died, according to police. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Fry most recently covered breaking news for The Times and was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. Joe's bride Esther - now his widow - was there. The Champion's newsletter is emailed Monday through Friday. Chino newlywed mourned after deadly fight with wedding crashers Joe Melgozas widow said she wants justice for her husbands murder, adding that she continues to love and miss him. Crime and Public Safety | The Castanedas fled, with one bat, the other having been taken away, and were trailed by Melgoza into a yard, authorities said. Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez, 19, were taken into custody around 12 hours after Joe Steven Melgoza was Josue Castenada initially denied to cops he and his sibling were at the party, but a photo booth pic of them and a female wedding guest was found in his pocket. California newlywed mourned after deadly fight with wedding All rights reserved. They began searching for Melgoza after hearing from witnesses that another victim was missing. Concord: Man killed in 4:30 a.m. solo crash on I-680. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to murder. THIS SERVICE IS THE EXACT REPLICA OF OUR NEWSPAPER - PAGE BY PAGE AS IF IT WERE IN YOUR HANDS. Please enter valid email address to continue. Police found the Ramirez brothers living just a few doors away from the reception, which was held at the home of the bride, Esther Melgoza. Hannah Fry is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 2 brothers found guilty of murdering groom at California wedding He Doesn't Mind, Biden's Best Lines From Correspondents Dinner, Experts Struggle to Explain Rise in Children's Brain Infections, In a First, Subjects to Be Asked to Pledge Allegiance to King. They said neither Melgoza nor anyone else involved in the wedding knew who they were prior to the attack. She says in honor of late husband, she will do whatever it takes to become a nurse. (Chino Police Department), Killer Confesses to Old Murder. Mr. Melgoza was missing but was found a short time later in the backyard of a home in the 13200 block of 17th Street. Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his 19-year-old brother, Josue Castaneda Ramirez, both of Chino, entered not guilty pleas Dec. 24 to one count of murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, court records show. Slight chance of a rain shower. Related Articles Held in the garden of the brides sister, the party was in full swing when Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his 19-year-old brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez joined the festivities, allegedly looking for alcohol. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Read more in our, Rony Castaneda Ramirez, left, and Josue Castaneda Ramirez are seen in photos released on Dec. 16, 2019, by the Chino Police Department. "Today I passed my first semester," said Esther. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Overcast. The suspects, 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and his 19-year-old brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez, were arrested later that afternoon at their home in Between tears, she related that she had still taken a nursing test on Tuesday despite her grief, because her husband had pushed her to work hard and achieve her dream. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Her family told CBS2 Tuesday that the suspects had crashed the wedding. Dustin Tomicic at (909)334-3115. Brothers convicted of murdering groom hours after crashing The suspects, 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and his 19-year-old brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez, were arrested later that afternoon at their home in the 5800 block of Chino Avenue after detectives served a search warrant. All rights reserved. Rony and Josue Castaneda, 31 and 22, respectively, will be sentenced in about two weeks for second-degree murder in the death of Joe Melgoza and assault with After the victim and others did, the brothers, having concealed the bats, authorities said, began striking them all with the bats and their fists. Esther says she's grateful for the time they had together. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 24. They were scheduled to be sentenced on March 13 at the Rancho Cucamonga Superior Courthouse. Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. The wedding and reception had been held at the home of the bride, now widow, Esther Melgoza. Wedding crashers beat groom to death during his reception, How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Friends and family are mourning Joe Melgoza, who police say was brutally attacked and killed by two wedding crashers just hours after he got married in Chino. Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his brother, Josue Castaneda Ramirez, 24, were reportedly asked to leave the reception party, as it was over, but instead Thank you for reading! Register to receive our free daily newsletter by email. Joe's brother, Matthew Velasquez, said the family wants justice. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. Witnesses say the two brothers were at the reception late apparently looking for free alcohol when they were asked to leave. Investigators were soon led to the two brothers, who live just down the block from the reception. Police: Groom beaten to death at Los Angeles-area wedding Success! Driver rescued after car plunges more than 500 feet off NorCal cliff, Authorities continue search for Texas man suspected of killing 5, Lakers, LeBron James to play Warriors, Steph Curry in NBA showdown. A San Bernardino County Superior Court jury has found two brothers guilty of killing a man at his 2019 wedding reception in Chino. Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his 19-year-old brother, Josue Castaneda Ramirez, have been charged with murder and held without bail on suspicion of murder The wedding crashing brothers lived near the wedding reception venue, were not family and did not know the groom, arrived without an invitation Newlywed mourned after deadly fight with wedding crashers Brothers Rony and Josue Castaneda convicted for beating Joe Melgoza to death in California in 2019. Friends and family are mourning Joe Melgoza, who police say was brutally attacked and killed by two wedding crashers just hours after he got married in California. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The arguments turned physical. man who killed neighbor lived with corpse for 3 days: police Investigators identified brothers Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and Josue Castaneda Ramirez, 19, as suspects in the fight and served a search warrant on their He died a short time later, police said. "Wonderful family," Valdivino said. KNBC reported that the pair, who lived nearby but did not know the family, . man who killed neighbor lived with corpse for 3 days: police. Rodney Reeds birthday was Dec. 22. Anyone with additional information about the case can contact Criminal Investigations Bureau Sgt. They entered not guilty pleas in court on Tuesday. Police said the two men were also "not known to those at the wedding reception.". He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but did not survive. Missing: 18-Year-Old Mom Takes Toddler Son From Dads During Supervised Visit, 2 Teens Dead, 4 Wounded in Mississippi House Party Shooting, Ana Walshe: Bone Fragment Found on Hacksaw in Brian Walshes Trash. Friends say Joe knew Esther's family since he was a teenager and her family is crushed by the loss. Two brothers beat California groom to death with baseball bats Two brothers who live in the neighborhood, later identified as 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and 19-year-old Josue Castaneda Ramirez, are accused of High 66F. Joe's brother, Matthew Velasquez, said the family wants justice. access for current print subscribers. Now, 'Justice', Guy Charged With Taking Break From a Date to Kill a Man, Texas Makes Largest Jail Death Settlement in Its History, 'Trump Train' Members Sorry for Harassing Biden Bus, Jackass Star Surrenders After Alleged Fight With Brother, After Fatal Rock Throw, Teen Allegedly Took Photo of Car, Woman Suspected of Killing 13 With Cyanide, TV Writer's 1990s Gaffe Is Legend. "Joe is forever gone and at the worst time, now we're stuck picking up the pieces and their family still has the shame to show their faces here knowing what their sons did, Velasquez said. "Just the way he looked at me all day.". Brothers Rony and Josue Castaeda Ramirez, 28 and 19, reportedly killed Joe Melgoza, 30, near his sisters home. Two brothers who live in the neighborhood, later identified as 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and 19-year-old Josue Castaneda Ramirez, are accused of Rony Castaneda Ramirez, 28, and his brother, Josue Castaneda Ramirez, 24, were reportedly asked to leave the reception party, as it was over, but instead returned with baseball bats and assaulted several people, leaving Melgoza with a fatal injury to his head. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Witnesses told the station that the two men were allegedly looking for alcohol when they arrived. Joe Steven Melgoza, 30, of Chino, was found in the 13200 block of 17th Street after police responded at about 2:20 a.m. Sunday regarding a fight. Two brothers who live in the neighborhood, later identified as 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and 19-year-old Josue Castaneda Ramirez, are accused of killing the groom after he tried to get them to leave the reception. Two brothers suspected in the beating death of a 30-year-old groom at his wedding reception last month pleaded not guilty and are due back in a West Valley Superior Courtroom Jan. 16 for a pre-preliminary hearing. Welcome! She grew up in Orange County and got her start as an intern at the Orange County Register. They are accused of beating three people. This undated booking photo provided by the Chino Police Department shows two brothers, Rony Castaneda Ramirez, left, and Josue Castaneda Ramirez who were Two brothers who live in the neighborhood, later identified as 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and 19-year-old Josue Castaneda Ramirez, are accused of killing the groom after he tried to get them to leave the reception. A GoFundMe page to help raise money for Melgoza's funeral described him as a "loving son, brother, father, cousin, partner, family member and friend." It's not necessarily clear. This was the 24th birthday and holiday season he has spent away from his children, his five brothers, his mother and his Josue Castaneda said he hadnt been at the reception but when arrested, police found a photo-booth picture of the two brothers with a female guest from the reception in his front pocket, authorities said. Chino police responded to reports of a fight at a home in the 13300 block of Oaks Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The victims mother cried and was visibly upset, describing her heartache in Spanish. BECOME A MEMBER TODAY! "Wonderful family," Valdivino said. (Chino Police Department) Twenty-eight-year-old Rony Aristides Castaneda Ramirez and his 19-year-old brother, Josue Daniel Castaneda Ramirez, have been He always had a way to make you smile, Melgozas cousin Alice Alvarez wrote. Thank you for reading! To signup for a new membership pleaseclick here. Suspects plead not guilty in groom beating death | News They have not been charged but are expected to appear in court Tuesday. Error! Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. "Joe was a loving son, brother, father, cousin, partner, family member and friend. WebRuben Castaneda (born 1961) is a former reporter for the Washington Post and author of the memoir S Street Rising: Crack, Murder, and Redemption in D.C. Castaneda was He was there for you at anytime to give a helping hand," the GoFundMe page stated. They're very pleasant and respectful.". The suspects, 28-year-old Rony Castaneda Ramirez and his 19-year-old brother Josue Castaneda Ramirez, were arrested later that afternoon at their home. Opinion: How could the As ungrateful owner do this to us? We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Loved ones say Joe Melgoza was beaten to death during his wedding reception early Sunday morning by two men who tried to crash the party. They bring happiness to everybody. The arguments turned physical. Groom, 30, is beaten to death with baseball bats at his reception