Teen girl found dead in orchard after leaving job at AutoZone while ex-boyfriend who could not get over breakup is caught tossing her driver's license

The ex-boyfriend of a California teen who went missing aft leaving her occupation astatine AutoZone — and past turned up dormant successful an orchard 3 days aboriginal — has been recovered guilty of murdering her.

Vicente Jasso, who was 23 erstwhile helium was arrested for Melanie Camacho's 2023 death, was convicted Wednesday of execution with peculiar circumstances of kidnapping and robbery, according to online tribunal records viewed by Law&Crime. He was recovered blameworthy by a Madera County assemblage and present faces life successful prison.

A 2nd suspect, Jose Lopez-Hernandez, who was Jasso's friend, was sentenced to 3 years successful situation successful February 2025 aft helium pleaded blameworthy to a felony complaint of accessory aft the fact. He has since been released.

According to a constabulary statement, Camacho — whose origin of decease has ne'er been revealed publically — was past seen "leaving her work" astatine an AutoZone connected Gateway Drive successful Madera astir 10:15 p.m. connected November 24, 2023.

"Around 11 p.m., Melanie sent a substance connection to her ma letting her cognize she planned to conscionable with a person aft work," the connection said. "When she was not location the pursuing morning, Melanie's parent reported her missing astir 6:45 a.m."

Surveillance footage and witnesser interviews pinpointed Camacho, 19, leaving her occupation astatine AutoZone successful her 2014 achromatic Nissan Altima, which was spotted connected the roadway adjacent her occupation astir 10:30 p.m., conscionable a fractional hr earlier her parent received the substance from her saying she planned to conscionable "with a friend."

"Detectives spoke with the person [Camacho] told her ma she'd beryllium meeting, who reported they ne'er met aft work, but alternatively Melanie planned to conscionable with an 'ex' to either springiness oregon person something," the constabulary connection said.

Police reported that Jasso and Camacho dated for a fewer months but had breached up days earlier Thanksgiving 2023. Jasso has a transgression inheritance that includes a past of home maltreatment dating backmost to 2016, Fresno ABC affiliate KFSN reported.

Within 2 hours of Camacho's parent reporting her missing, constabulary received a telephone astir a car connected occurrence successful the area. It was Camacho's.

Witnesses told constabulary they saw a bluish Ford Mustang with a achromatic hood being driven astir the aforesaid country wherever her car was found. Queuing up surveillance footage, constabulary said they were capable to find that the Mustang belonged to Lopez-Hernandez.

Lopez-Hernandez was brought successful for questioning that nighttime and constabulary executed a hunt warrant connected his location soon afterward.

The warrant led them to the orchard wherever Camacho was found, located adjacent a agrarian highway.

By then, constabulary said they had made Jasso their superior suspect.

Officers spotted him astir 7 a.m. the pursuing time driving astir Madera successful a minivan. California Highway Patrol attempted to halt him and a pursuit got underway, with Jasso traveling astatine speeds successful excess of 110 miles per hour, according to The Fresno Bee.

More from Law&Crime: Mother begged her ex-boyfriend to 'please leave' earlier helium changeable her dormant portion their 'little girl' was hiding successful their home, present helium is headed to prison

Police said that they saw Jasso tossing immoderate of Camacho's belongings, including her driver's license, from his car model during the chase.

Jasso was yet stopped acknowledgment to a spike portion that blew retired his tires. He managed to flight connected ft concisely and hid successful a residential vicinity but was yet captured with the assistance of a constabulary helicopter.

Police person said that Jasso has a transgression past dating backmost to 2016, with anterior arrests for witnesser intimidation, home violence, evading, and reckless driving. He's owed to beryllium sentenced for Camacho's execution connected April 16.