Body found near Zillah identified as Oregon man
YAKIMA, Wash. — Officials have confirmed that a body found near Zillah in September is that of a 24-year-old Oregon man believed killed earlier this year.
The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that DNA analysis identified the body as Antonio Hernandez-Ledezma of Boardman, Oregon.
The body was found by a hiker. The sheriff’s office says an autopsy showed he had been shot in the back of the head at close range.
The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that 19-year-old Yoset Dominguez-Serrano of Outlook is charged with first-degree murder in the death. Officials believe Hernandez-Ledezma was shot in February in the Sunnyside area.
The victim was facing rape charges in Yakima County Superior Court for allegedly impregnating a relative of Dominguez-Serrano, who is being held in the Yakima County jail on $1 million bail.