Rickey Ricardo Rivas, 32, of Bakersfield, California, was found dead inside a burned vehicle in East Bakersfield on December 21, 2018. The Kern County Coroner’s Office determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds before the vehicle was set on fire.

The investigation produced two arrests. Albert Castillo, 26, was charged with murder; at trial he was acquitted of murder but convicted of voluntary manslaughter and faced a maximum sentence of 11 years. Samuel Rivas was initially charged with arson and destroying evidence, but those charges were later dismissed.

The case raises questions about what led to the shooting and the decision to burn the vehicle, and how evidence and testimony affected the differing outcomes for the two defendants. Does anyone have information about Rickey’s last known movements or the people involved?