Liliana Yanez Arellano, 32, was shot and killed on January 15, 2017, at the Royal Plaza Inn in Indio, California. Drayer briefly left the room, returned to retrieve a hollowed-out dictionary used to transport drugs, and — believing the item had been tampered with — held the occupants at gunpoint. When Yanez continued using her phone, Drayer shot her once in the chest; she died at the scene.

Drayer fled in an SUV with Colorado plates and was later arrested hiding in a bathroom at a woman’s home in Joshua Tree after attempting to escape through a window. At trial his attorney argued self-defense, saying Yanez had called people to the hotel; the prosecution attributed his actions to paranoia and anger. A jury convicted Drayer of second-degree murder and the judge imposed sentences totaling 40 years to life, including a 15-to-life term for murder and a 25-to-life gun-use enhancement. Yanez’s mother, Soledad Arellano, spoke of grief and relief at the sentence. If anyone knew Liliana or was at the hotel that night, please share what was seen or heard.