Father, Son Arrested in 1977 Slayings
FRESNO — Two men have been arrested in the slayings of two young Fresno girls 17 years ago, Fresno County Sheriff Steve Magarian said Tuesday.
Ernest Marin Jr., 55, of Kingsburg, and his son, Ernest Marin III, 35, of Fresno, were booked into jail Monday night in part because of new information provided by people close to their family, Magarian said.
The sheriff said evidence indicates that the elder Marin was sexually attracted to Connie Ostos, 13, and Belinda Louise Hernandez, 12, and lured them to his Fresno home on Feb. 22, 1977.
The girls were stabbed to death, and their bodies were driven to an area near Pine Flat Reservoir and dumped, the sheriff added.
Their corpses were found March 16, 1977, but were so badly decomposed and mutilated by animals that autopsies were unable to show whether they had been sexually molested.
Magarian said the elder Marin is believed to have killed the girls. Authorities believe his son helped dispose of the bodies.
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