The Murder of Yanelly Solorio-Rivera & her Daughter Celine
Yanelly Solorio-Rivera, 18, and her 3-week-old daughter, Celine, were murdered while they slept in the same bed, in their Southwest Fresno, California home. Yarelly Solorio-Rivera, 22, and her boyfriend, Martin Arroyo-Morales, 26, were arrested for their murders. The accused has confessed to the crimes and is awaiting trial.
The Discovery
On September 24, 2022, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch received a report of multiple gunshots within a residence. Southwest Policing District and emergency medical services responded to the 2500 block of South Fruit Avenue, Fresno, California. Inside the residence, emergency services discovered the bodies of an 18-year-old mother and her newborn daughter, where they had been sleeping in a bedroom. Both mother and daughter were victims of multiple gunshots, and both were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Investigation
Investigators questioned people and other family members who had gathered in front of the residence. They quickly learned that the 9-1-1 caller had been the victim’s older sister, Yarelly. Yarelly had told investigators that the family inside the residence had run from the home when they heard the gunshots because they were afraid that the gunman might still be in the house. She further stated that no one had checked on her sister Yanelly or her newborn daughter.
Detectives began canvassing the immediate neighborhood, hoping to find additional clues or security camera surveillance video. They found video footage that captured a man pacing back and forth on the sidewalk near the crime scene. At one point, the video showed him entering the residence and within a few minutes; it showed him quickly exiting.
Detectives conducted follow-up interviews which yielded new information. A family member of the victims stated that they had seen Arroyo-Morales running from the home’s garage with a gun in his hand, just after the gunshots had been heard. Investigators were able to positively identify Arroyo-Morales of Madera, CA, as the man that was captured in the surveillance video. Arroyo-Morales was well known to law enforcement. They have stated that he is a verified gang member. He had been charged prior to having sex with a minor. Arroyo-Morales is also the boyfriend of Yarelly Solorio-Rivera and the father of her two young children.
Detectives conducted follow-up interviews which yielded new information. A family member of the victims stated that they had seen Arroyo-Morales running from the home’s garage with a gun in his hand, just after the gunshots had been heard. Investigators were able to positively identify Arroyo-Morales of Madera, CA, as the man that was captured in the surveillance video. Arroyo-Morales was well known to law enforcement. They have stated that he is a verified gang member. He had been charged prior to having sex with a minor. Arroyo-Morales is also the boyfriend of Yarelly Solorio-Rivera and the father of her two young children.
Follow-up interviews were held with Yarelly. She had stated that the night before the murders; she had been with friends. Investigators determined she had lied, and that she was actually with Arroyo-Morales. While the pair were being held in custody for questioning, Yarelly initially stated that she was involved in the planning but never pulled the trigger. Investigators determined that was a lie.
When confronted with the evidence, both Yarelly Solorio-Rivera and Martin Arroyo-Morales confessed to their roles in the murders of Yanelly and Celine. Neither of the accused showed any remorse for the deaths. The reasons offered by Yanelly were that she was jealous of the attention that her sister Yanelly and her newborn daughter were receiving. She also stated that her two young children had never received that kind of attention. She told investigators she could not live with her sister anymore and alluded to sibling rivalry.
Martin Arroyo-Morales stated he went along with the plan that they had manufactured and that Yarelly gave him the Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun after she had shot her sister and niece.
The Arrest of Yarelly Solorio-Rivera
On November 9, 2022, Yarelly Solorio-Rivera and Martin Arroyo-Morales were formally charged for the murders of Yanelly Solorio-Rivera and her daughter, Celine Solorio-Rivera. The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office listed the charges for Solorio-Rivera as two counts of murder and a special circumstance of multiple murders. She is additionally charged with two enhancements of personal and intentional discharge of a firearm, causing death.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office listed the charges for Martin Arroyo-Morales as two counts of murder and a special circumstance of multiple murders.
If found guilty, the possible sentence for both is the death penalty.
A judge ordered both defendants be held on $2 million bail. A trial date has not been set.
Despite the confessions, the deaths of Yanelly and Celine are an ongoing investigation. A trial date for either of the accused has not been set.