Hermiston man sentenced in 2022 murder of Moses Lake woman

EPHRATA — A Hermiston, Ore., man has been sentenced to 20 years to life in prison following his guilty plea in the March 2022 murder of a Moses Lake woman. 

Juan Gastelum Jr., 32, was sentenced April 28 in the killing of Yania Cedillos, according to Grant County Superior Court documents. Gastelum pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with sexual motivation March 3. 

Cedillos disappeared in March 2022 while celebrating her birthday with friends. Her family reported her missing when she failed to show up for work.   

The standard sentencing for second-degree murder range is a minimum of 10 to 19 years, but the finding of sexual motivation raised the minimum range to 12 to 20 years. The maximum sentence in either case is life in prison.   

Cedillos and Gastelum had ended a romantic relationship prior to her murder, but Gastelum was communicating with her the night of her birthday, according to court documents and statements from investigators. They had reportedly gone to her apartment together after she left the party.  

Moses Lake Police Department detectives discovered evidence in her apartment indicating she likely had been killed, court documents said. Evidence from Gastelum’s cell phone was a critical element in the investigation, according to court documents.  

He was arrested in Hermiston about a week after Cedillos was reported missing. According to court documents, her body was later found at the Wallula Game Department Reserve about 90 miles south of Moses Lake. 

A number of no-contact orders were issued as well, prohibiting Gastelum from contacting members of Cedillos’ family.