Nampa man arrested in Arizona on suspicion of murder, kidnapping. He was one of six
A 25-year-old Nampa man was arrested by Arizona authorities on an outstanding warrant for his connection to the murder and kidnapping of a 22-year-old.
In November 2021, Luis Garcia was found “unresponsive” in the driveway of a Caldwell home, according to an affidavit of probable cause previously obtained by the Idaho Statesman. The Nampa resident was “not expected to live” and later died at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, the affidavit said.
A total of six people have been connected to Garcia’s death — including Simon Sarmiento — who was arrested by the Douglas Arizona Police Department on Saturday, according to a news release from the Nampa Police Department and jail records. He was arrested on suspicion of three felonies: first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and destruction of evidence.
Authorities have been searching for Sarmiento along with another man, Jose Luis Buenrostro, since the 2021 homicide. Buenrostro was still wanted by police in June, but it is unclear whether he has since been located. The Statesman has reached out to Nampa police for additional information.
Sarmiento is expected to be extradited back to Idaho, police said.
The other four suspects in the case have been arrested or sentenced by police. Tomas Pina Sarmiento pleaded guilty to the second-degree kidnapping of Garcia, but he died in September from an apparent opiate overdose. He was 26.
In August, 22-year-old Sergio Jimenez was sentenced to at least nine years in prison but up to 30 years for the second-degree murder of Garcia.
Both Sean Anthony Tambini, 30, who has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping and Priscilla Hernandez, 30, who has been charged with four counts of harboring or protecting a felon, are still awaiting their jury trials, according to online court records.
“It doesn’t matter what I say today, it’s not going to bring Luis back,” Garcia’s father, Pedro Garcia, said to Jimenez during his sentencing. “But I just want to say for you to see God and get forgiveness for yourself.”
