Six Arrested in Connection to Torture and Murder of Yuma Man Found in Winterhaven Bonfire
WINTERHAVEN, Calif. — Imperial County authorities have arrested six individuals in connection with the torture and murder of Jacob Sims, a 23-year-old man from Yuma, Arizona, whose burned remains were discovered in a bonfire pit on a rural property in Winterhaven.
According to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO), deputies were dispatched to 2125 Rodenbaugh Road on the morning of November 15, 2024, after a resident reported seeing something unusual in the remnants of a bonfire.
“It came in from a resident from a house. They reported something suspicious, unknown what it really was. They were able to sort of identify… not sure what they had at the moment… after they realized what they had, they obviously made it into a crime scene,” said Sgt. Moises Badena in an interview with KYMA.
The Imperial County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the remains were those of Jacob Sims.
After a multi-agency investigation involving forensic examinations, digital evidence analysis, and witness interviews, ICSO investigators identified and arrested six suspects:
Gabriel Mills Jr., Daniel Gavino Martinez, Gabriel Mills Sr., and Sadie Hiatt have each been charged by the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office with the following felony offenses:
PC 187(a) – Murder
PC 209(b)(1) – Aggravated Kidnapping to Commit Another Crime
PC 206 – Torture
PC 211 – Robbery
PC 182(a)(1) – Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
Two additional individuals, Carla Gilmore and Lavonne Hill, were arrested and charged with:
PC 32 – Accessory After the Fact (Knowledge of Crime)
“The arrests made this past week reflect our agency’s commitment to delivering justice for Jacob Sims and his family,” ICSO said in a press release.
ICSO also extended gratitude to the Anaheim Police Department and the Imperial Valley Law Enforcement Coordination Center (IVLECC) for their assistance in executing search warrants and conducting digital forensic analysis.
The investigation remains active, and authorities say further arrests or charges may follow. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Investigator Victor Torres at (442) 265-2052.