A Cincinnati man has been convicted on several felony charges for a 1997 homicide in Lenawee County. Richardo Sepulveda, 53, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, assault with intent to maim, and tampering with evidence. The murder charge carries a sentence of life without parol, according to the Department of Attorney General.
In January 2023, new forensic technology and increased cooperation between agencies led to charges against Sepulveda and his co-defendant, Michael Sepulveda, of Toledo, Ohio. Michael Sepulveda later pled guilty to second-degree murder. The victim, known as "John Doe," was found in a cornfield in Blissfield Township without a head or hands. Authorities believe the crime is connected to international drug trafficking, as reported by the Department of Attorney General.
"Because of the relentless efforts of the Michigan State Police, the multiple local and federal law enforcement agencies who never gave up, and the dedicated prosecutors in my office, we have brought a measure of accountability in this tragic case," said Nessel in a statement from the Department of Attorney General. A jury convicted the Sepulveda brothers in a case involving the death of an unidentified Hispanic man, believed to be in his early thirties from the Texas border area, possibly Corpus Christi or McAllen. The victim’s identity remains unknown, and the Michigan State Police are continuing to investigate. Authorities ask anyone with information to contact D/Sgt. Larry Rothman. Sentencing is scheduled for May and June 2025 before Judge Michael R. Olsaver in the 39th Circuit Court.
