Atwater man wanted for murder

An Atwater man is wanted for murder in connection with the death of 24-year-old North Hills man, whose body was found buried in shallow grave in rural Merced County, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department reported Wednesday.

The body of Christopher Hernandez was unearthed Sept. 10 in a remote area about 10 miles north of Winton. He had been shot numerous times and buried near a river. No arrests have been made in the case, the Sheriff’s Department confirmed. In order to protect the investigation, deputies did not release information about the discovery until Wednesday.

Sheriff’s detectives are seeking 45-year-old Valente Lara Trellas of Atwater as a suspect. A warrant charging Trellas with murder has been issued in connection with the death of Hernandez, Detective Sgt. Chuck Hale said.

“We’ve been unable to locate him thus far and are asking the public’s help for any information regarding his whereabouts,” Hale said. “He should not be approached, if he is seen, and he should be considered armed and dangerous.”

Hernandez had been reported missing from his Southern California home. Deputies received information last week from the Los Angeles Police Department that eventually led detectives to Hernandez’s body.

Investigators believe Hernandez had been dead for several days by the time he found, Hale said.

Deputies found the body near a large-scale marijuana grow and said there was evidence of a gunfight near the scene. Investigators said multiple abandoned encampments were located in the area, along with food and several generators.

Hernandez’s death marks the 22nd homicide this year in Merced County.

Deputy Ray Framstad said large-scale marijuana grows continue to spark violence and create numerous problems in Merced County. Since the beginning of the year, he said, deputies have raided more than 100 illegal growing operations, eradicating more than 45,000 plants.

“It’s not just the illegal grows attracting the criminal element, either,” Framstad noted. “We’re also seeing people who are growing in compliance with the ordinance targeted.”

Last year, Merced County passed a 12-plant limit per parcel of property for medical marijuana cultivation in the county. “But you can get a lot of money from 12 plants. That makes it a target for some people,” Framstad said.

Framstad said one plant typically yields between 1 and 3 pounds of marijuana buds, with a street value ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per pound if the buds are transported and sold out of state.

This story was originally published September 17, 2014 at 7:24 PM with the headline "Atwater man wanted for murder."