Missing Woman's Body Found in Southeast Washington

An autopsy has confirmed that a body found in southeastern Washington is the body of missing 30-year-old Yanira Cedillos, a mother of three who went missing in March after celebrating her birthday.

Cedillos was celebrating her 30th birthday at Papa’s Casino with friends on March 3rd when friends say Juan Ismael Gastelum, 27, messaged her multiple times asking where she was and what she was doing.

Cedillos reportedly called a friend to pick her up. When the friend arrived in the area, Cedillos wasn’t seen again. When a friend called her, a man could be heard yelling in the background and the call quickly disconnected.

Upon investigating Cedillos apartment, police were able to determine that she’d been killed there.

ZETX Advancing Justice provided local authorities with information about the suspected killer’s cellphone, which pointed towards a remote area just off Highway 12 near the Washington-Oregon state line just outside of Walla Junction.

Gastelum was allegedly in the area for a few minutes the morning of Cedillos disappearance. On March 4th, he was spotted cleaning out his car at a local gas station at about 7:30 a.m. after leaving the apartment in the early hours of the morning. Gastelum was arrested in March on suspicion of murder and rape.

Officers searched the area last Thursday and discovered a woman’s body in a sleeping bag covered by tree limbs and leaves. An autopsy Monday at the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the body was Cedillos.

In a statement, Cedillos family thanked Moses Lake police for continuing their search and the surrounding community for support.