Still Missing CA - LaDexter Pelt & John Dubose Jr, from AL, visiting friends in Sacramento, 5 Nov 2021 *Arrest*

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Nov 15, 2023 article

Murder case involving 2 missing Alabama men ends with 2nd hung jury in California

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — On November 4, 2021, Ladexter Pelt and John Dubose, Jr. flew from Alabama to California. A day later, they were seen near the town of Gridley, California. In the last two …

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On Monday, a hung jury was declared in the second case against Ricardo Banuelos, 32, who is charged with murdering Pelt and Dubose. According to Butte County (Calif.) District Attorney Michael Ramsey, the jury was deadlocked 7-5 on the two murder charges.

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In addition, police are still searching for Banuelos’ brother, Alfredo, who is wanted on murder charges in the case.

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Ladexter Tequan Pelt – The Charley Project

Last updated October 28, 2024; details of disappearance updated.

Details of Disappearance​

Pelt disappeared with a friend, John Dubose. The two men flew from their home state of Alabama to California on November 4, 2021, in order to visit friends. They landed in Sacramento and were seen getting into a dark blue four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan or Toyota, which left the airport at 11:07 a.m.

Pelt and Dubose were last seen just south of Gridley, California, which is 60 miles north of Sacramento. Neither of them has ever been heard from again.

A hunter found Dubose's cellular phone in the woods in the Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area on the northwest side of the State Route 99 Feather River bridge crossing, near the town of Nicholas, California. A search of the surrounding area, however, turned up no other clues.

In December 2021, Ricardo Banuelos-Villarreal and Alfredo Banuelos-Villarreal, both residents of Gridley, were were charged with two counts of murder in the missing men's cases. They knew Pelt and Dubose and had allegedly sent marijuana to them in Alabama. Investigators believe the Banuelos-Villarreals killed Pelt and Dubose at a house in Gridley and hid their bodies. Blood matching DNA from one of the missing men was found in Ricardo's detached garage.

Photos of the Banuelos-Villarreals are posted with the case summary. Ricardo has been arrested, but Alfredo remains at large. He may be driving a 2008 Nissan Altima with the California license plate number 6VAR204.

Ricardo was tried for the murders in September 2022, but jury was unable to reach a verdict in the murder case, deadlocking at nine to three for conviction. They did convict him of transporting marijuana out of state. At his second murder trial in November 2023, the jury deadlocked again, at seven to five for conviction.

Although Pelt and Dubose's remains have not been located, foul play is suspected in their disappearances due to the circumstances involved.

John Fitzgerald Dubose Jr. – The Charley Project