Dating cited in arrests in Pleasant Hill janitor's stabbing death

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. (June 9, 2024) — A scorned lover led to three arrests in the violent stabbing death of a Pleasant Hill Recreation and Parks District guard.

Pleasant Hill police investigators arrested three people May 31 in connection with the Feb. 10 death of Santiago Jacobo, 37, of Pittsburg. Pablo Gutierrez-Morales, 31, Concord; Vanessa Vera-Aguilar, 24, Antioch; and Jazmin Ruiz, 25, Antioch, all knew Jacobo. Officers booked them into the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The department's three-month investigation revealed that Jacobo and the attackers worked together at the Watermark assisted living facility in San Ramon. Jacobo had worked several jobs to help his family make ends meet.

Evidence showed the suspects planned, coordinated and carried out the attack on Jacobo after he finished his night shift as a guard at Pleasant Hill Park, according to a department news release. Detectives determined that before Jacobo's murder, he had a relationship with Vera-Aguilar while Gutierrez-Morales also had a new relationship with her.

A very violent attack

Pleasant Hill Police Chief Scott Vermilion noted early in the investigation that they found no evidence and no one came forward.

“What was evident was a very violent attack,” he said of the crime scene. “The number of times he was stabbed showed there was rage and anger behind it.”

This led investigators to believe strong emotions played a role between the victim and suspect, ruling out other possible motives like theft and a chance encounter.

On February 10, around 4:50 a.m., Jacobo's wife, Alejandra, discovered his body in the main parking lot of Pleasant Hill Park along Gregory Lane. She had come to the park after he hadn't returned home from his shift. She called 911, but responding officers and medical personnel determined that Jacobo had died from stab wounds.

Dig the background

Investigators began looking into Jacobo's background, which led them to the Watermark connection.

“At one point we interviewed some of the people involved. We found out later that they had been dishonest with us,” Vermillion said.

“Evidence doesn’t lie and people lie. Investigators found circumstantial evidence linking them to the scene and contradicting the statements we obtained,” he added.

Vermillion did not know if Jacobo's wife knew about the apparent situation involving her husband. Jacobo's wife was cooperative from the start and continues to be, Vermillion said.

The investigation became more difficult due to a double homicide that occurred a month later. This case involved a cannabis industry delivery driver and one of his attackers.

“We had to prioritize our resources to deal with two cases at once,” Vermillion said. “We have never worked on two homicides at once. I have always worked at the ministry, this is a first.

As the investigation continues to iron out kinks, officials have had enough to move forward with charges against the suspects.

Vermillion praised the hard work of its investigators and sworn personnel. They helped obtain search warrants in a case that was difficult to solve due to a lack of evidence and witnesses. The agency thanked San Ramon police for their assistance. They also thanked the Recreation and Parks District for its support during the homicide investigation.