Police Chief David Westrick this week said a homicide case involving a wanted suspect and missing woman is particularly frustrating.
Police have been looking for 20-year-old suspect Jose Barajas and 19-year-old Vanessa Flores, both from Hollister, since the Aug. 1 murder of 19-year-old Ariana Zendejas, also from Hollister.
“It’s one of those things – it’s super frustrating,” Westrick told the Free Lance this week. “I’m super frustrated with this case.”
He explained that the department tries to recirculate the related posters every week and how police have stayed in contact with families of those involved.
In the earlier days of the investigation, there were many tips coming in to police, and investigators responded to all of them, the chief said. Police still get some tips but not as many as Westrick would like.
“It’s still obviously the number one case,” he said. “I get a briefing on it every day.”
In the first month of the investigation, there were so many rumors circulating in the area and on social media that police found a need to clarify how Barajas and Flores were still at large. Police at the time described an investigation in which they continued getting many tips – the city offered a $25,000 reward in the case – while saying Barajas may be close to home or in other states or countries.
Police have been looking for Barajas as the primary suspect in the shooting that killed Zendejas. Police alleged Barajas fired from one vehicle into another, which included Zendejas as a passenger, at B and West streets the night of Aug. 1. Investigators surmised it was in retaliation for a confrontation earlier that day between the suspect and another male. Investigators previously reported they believed Barajas was holding another female, Flores, against her will as well.
Anyone with information in the case can call police at (831) 636-4330 or WeTIP at (800) 78-CRIME.
