28-Year-Old Man Arrested In Murder Of Taxi Driver Found In Croton Falls Reservoir, Sheriff Says

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

A 28-year-old Hudson Valley man has been arrested and charged in connection with the killing of a 66-year-old Connecticut taxi driver, authorities announced Saturday, Dec. 13.

Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, of Pawling, NY, was taken into custody on Friday, Dec. 12, at approximately 6:50 p.m. outside his home, Putnam County Sheriff Brian Hess said.

The arrest stems from an investigation that began on Dec. 7, following the death of Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez, 66, of Danbury, after his body was recovered from the Croton Falls Reservoir.

Following his arrest, Vasquez Ramirez confessed to the crimes during questioning by investigators, authorities said. He was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery, Hess said.

A motive was not immediately released.

Investigators with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Criminal Investigations conducted an extensive, coordinated investigation that included reviewing video surveillance, analyzing forensic evidence, and working closely with multiple partner agencies, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities said investigators canvassed numerous surveillance systems and recovered forensic evidence, including blood and DNA, which was submitted for testing. Testing remains ongoing, according to the release.

Vasquez Ramirez is scheduled to be arraigned this week in the Town of Southeast Court, authorities said.