Arrest made in 1994 Mattawa murders

EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff's Office picked up a 39-year-old man in Riverside, Calif., on Friday who authorities believe is connected with a double homicide near Mattawa dating back to 1994.

The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Leopoldo Fernandez-Mejia of Phoenix, Ariz. at a California roadside rest area last week. Border officials notified the sheriff's office Mejia was in their custody.

Mejia was then transported back to Ephrata by sheriff's office deputies and booked into Grant County Jail for complicity to commit one count of first-degree murder and complicity to commit one count of second-degree murder in connection with the April 8, 1994 shooting deaths of two men. The Grant County Prosecutor's Office agreed to charge Mejia on both counts, sheriff's detective Dave Matney said Monday.

Without providing details, Matney said other people may have been involved in the shooting deaths. Their identities will not be released at this time, he said.

In 1994, investigators found both Fortino Barajas Sandoval, 41, and Victor Sandoval Saucedo, 30, dead in an orchard near Mattawa. Sandoval appeared to have died from a small caliber gunshot wound to the chest while the other man likely bled to death from gunshot wounds to his legs, Matney said.

The two men's bodies were found at the scene along with a pound of cocaine and bullet cartridges, Matney said. Saucedo did have a handgun in his possession when he was found.

Matney said Mejia claims he suffered a minor injury to his face during the incident.

Sheriff's office detectives have already interviewed Mejia and said he is expected to make his first appearance in Grant County Superior Court today.