Breaking: Amarillo Local is Third to Fall in Idaho Murder Case

There's something about Amarillo that seems to be a safe haven for criminals in other states. There have many different instances in which someone was arrested in the Amarillo area for a crime committed elsewhere.

Maybe it's because it's a small, unassuming city. Maybe it's because people seem to think there are a lot of places to hide. Or is it that they feel like no one is going to think to look in Amarillo?

Look, they're all valid reasons for someone to slide into our city trying to avoid being arrested. Funny thing is, it doesn't ever seem to work out for them.

Once again, we have a suspect who decide to spend some time in our fair city, and it's cost him as yesterday, an arrest was made by the U.S. Marshals on a pretty serious charge.

THE CRIME

It all happened on November 26, 2022 in the little town of Nampa, Idaho. Police were called out to a location around 11:30 pm in regards to a shooting. When they arrived, they found 20-year-old Isaac Bernal on the ground.

Bernal had been shot, and they immediately went to work on trying to save his life. Sadly, their attempt was unsuccessful and he passed away at the scene. Police mentioned at the scene they believed the shooting was gang-related.

THE CASE

Police began work on the case, trying to figure out a motive, find witnesses along with others who may have info, and trying to figure out suspects in the case. As they gathered their info, they were able to hone in on suspects in the case.

With suspects nailed down, they began their hunt for them but had been relatively unsuccessful in their attempt to find them. There would be a reason as to why.

THE SUSPECTS

The case would go without any arrests until August of 2024, nearly two years after the shooting, then a breakthrough occurred.

Olivia Hernandez, one of the suspects in the case, was located right here in Potter County. Police moved swiftly to bring her in and on August 16, they arrested Hernandez. She was promptly extradited back to Idaho and charged with aiding and abetting 1st-degree murder and accessory to felony harboring.

Her arrest would allow the case to gain some steam and start to lead down the suspect path. It would appear police were able to get some either new info or something that would help them in their case, and they were able to quickly make another "arrest".

I put the word arrest in quotes because the next suspect that would be "found" and charged, was already in jail on an unrelated charge.

Manual Santana was already inside the walls of the Idaho Department of Corrections and was scheduled to be transported to Canyon County Jail where police will serve him with a 1st-degree homicide warrant related to the shooting.

Two down, one to go. Police were quickly putting the pieces together and this time, they turned their attention back to Amarillo. If one person was found here, surely there's some info, or maybe even the suspect, laying around the city.

They were correct. Yesterday, October 16, U.S. Marshals were able to locate the third suspect and arrest him in connection with the murder.

Victoriano Vicente Hernandez-Olivo was found in Randall County and picked up and promptly charged with accessory with 1st-degree murder. He is currently being scheduled for extradition back to Canyon County, Idaho to face his charges.

WHAT'S NEXT

With all three suspects now in custody, they can begin to move forward with putting all the pieces together for trial. Nampa Police Chief Joe Huff said, “Wrapping up the last arrest today in Texas is a great achievement. The Nampa Police Person’s Crime Unit worked long and hard on this homicide, and I’m proud of that team of officers.”

He went on to say he hopes this will begin the healing and closure process for the Bernal family.