Two women from Antioch are among three people arrested in connection with the love triangle that resulted in the stabbing death of a Pleasant Hill park employee in February

Suspected of killing Pittsburgh resident Santiago Jacobo; all former colleagues

One woman, a former student at Deer Valley High, is his ex-girlfriend; the third suspect, a Concord man, is being held on an immigration warrant

Victim’s family’s GoFundMe account exceeds goal

By Captain Matt Kristic, Pleasant Hill Police Department

Crime/Incident: Manslaughter – Criminal Code 187

Date/time of notification: February 10, 2024

Location: Pleasant Hill Park, 147 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill

Victim: Santiago Jacobo, 37 years old, resident of Pittsburg, CA

Suspects: Suspect #1 Pablo Gutierrez-Morales, 31 years old, resident of Concord, CA (in custody)

Suspect No. 2: Vanessa Vera-Aguilar, 24 years old, resident of Antioch, CA (in custody)

Suspect #3: Jazmin Ruiz, 25 years old, resident of Antioch, CA (in custody)

Case number: 24-411

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On Friday, May 31, 2024, Pleasant Hill Police Department investigators arrested three people in connection with the stabbing death of Pittsburg park employee Santiago Jacobo on February 10, 2024.

Pablo Jose Gutierrez-Morales, 31, of Concord, Vanessa Vera-Aguilar, 24, of Antioch, and Jazmin Ruiz, 25, of Antioch, were booked into the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

During a three-month investigation, Pleasant Hill Police detectives secured evidence that the victim and the suspects knew each other because they all worked together at the Watermark in San Ramon, an assisted living facility.

The evidence shows that the arrested suspects planned, coordinated and carried out the attack on Jacobo on the night of February 10, 2024, after Jacobo finished his shift as a janitor at Pleasant Hill Park. (See related article)

Investigators found that Jacobo had a relationship with suspect Vera-Aguilar before his murder, while another suspect, Gutierrez-Morales, was seeking a new relationship with her.

Police are asking anyone with information about Jacobo’s death and the suspects involved to contact the Pleasant Hill Police Investigations Bureau at (925) 288-4630.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Jacobo family.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department would like to thank the San Ramon Police Department for their assistance. We would also like to thank the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District for their continued assistance during the homicide investigation.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, 5’10”, 170 lbs. Gutierrez-Morales (born 5/8/1993) is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility, and his arrest type is listed as immigration. 5’11”, 100 lbs. Ruiz is being held without bail at the West County Detention Facility on a Ramey warrant. An online search of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office failed to locate any information on Vera-Aguilar. However, according to her Facebook page, she attended Deer Valley High School and dropped out in 2018. Efforts to reach Vera-Aguilar and Captain Kristic for additional details were unsuccessful prior to publication.

TO UPDATE: When asked why Vera-Aguilar is not listed as being in custody, Captain Kristic said, “All three are in custody and there is no bail. Vera-Aguilar is also being held at the West County Detention Center. The Aquarius system the Sheriff’s Office uses had issues updating today.”

Regarding the arrest of Gutierrez-Morales, which was considered an immigration offense, he said: “An external document was sent to MDF by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement). But all three suspects were arrested for murder and conspiracy to commit murder.”

“The photos of the suspects are being released due to the violent crimes associated with this case,” Kristic added.

A GoFundMe account for Jacobo, set up by his sister-in-law Maria Jacobo on behalf of his wife Alejandra Jacobo, has raised $42,109 as of Saturday, June 1, surpassing its goal of $35,000. According to the account, “He leaves behind a wife and two children, son Santiago and daughter Mikaela. It is beyond belief that his life was taken in such a violent and cowardly manner. Santiago was a kind, hard-working man and will be missed by many loved ones.” Donations are intended to “cover funeral expenses or any expenses Alejandra and her children may have during this difficult time.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

the attachments to this article:

3 people arrested in connection with stabbing in PH 31.05.24 PHPD & Santiago Jacobo GFM

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