Undocumented Guatemalan man charged in upstate New York cab driver's death after fare dispute

BREWSTER, N.Y. — A 27-year-old undocumented migrant from Guatemala has been charged with killing a taxi driver in upstate New York after a dispute over a fare, authorities said. Santos Paulino Vasquez-Ramirez allegedly strangled Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez, a 66-year-old father of four, on Dec. 1 in Brewster and dumped the body in the Croton Falls Reservoir before fleeing in the victim’s black Toyota Sierra, according to local police and federal officials.

Zhunio-Orbez was reported missing on Dec. 6, and authorities said he was last seen in Brewster. A fisherman later found his body in the reservoir the following day, roughly 3.5 miles from the town. Federal authorities released photographs showing Vasquez-Ramirez, who was in custody, smiling as he was escorted to a detention facility. Police said the suspect had stolen Zhunio-Orbez’s taxi after the killing and abandoned it near Purdy's Metro-North station.

Police said Vasquez-Ramirez had entered the United States illegally in October 2013, and federal officials tied the case to past immigration actions in the wake of the incident. The Department of Homeland Security said he was released into the community during previous enforcement efforts, a point highlighted by some officials in comments about immigration policy. An immigration judge issued a removal order against Vasquez-Ramirez on Jan. 22, 2016, during the early days of the Trump administration, and it remains unclear how he stayed in the country for more than nine years after that ruling. ICE lodged an arrest detainer with local authorities to ensure he could not be released back into the community pending resolution of his status.

Neighbors and people who knew Zhunio-Orbez described him as a loving father who had a strong bond with his pets and his church community. The Ecuadorian-born cab driver had lived in the town of Pawling for several years and drove for Orbe’s Taxi Service for about four years, according to his obituary. He leaves behind a wife, Irene Fernández, and four children. The obituary, translated from Spanish, portrays him as dedicated to his work, generous to others, and fond of cooking, Western movies, volleyball, and his dog, Pecas. A fundraiser has been launched to support his family as the community mourns his loss and awaits further details in the criminal case.

The case has drawn attention to ongoing debates over immigration policy and border enforcement in the United States. DHS officials characterized the suspect’s presence in the country as having consequences tied to what they describe as lenient entry policies, while advocates for undocumented migrants say the focus should be on criminal accountability rather than immigration status alone. Law enforcement officials emphasized that the investigation continues and that prosecutors will pursue charges based on the evidence gathered in Brewster and surrounding areas.

Zhunio-Orbez’s family requested privacy in the wake of the tragedy, though friends described him as a devoted husband and caretaker who enjoyed family life and served in his church. Local authorities said they would provide updates as the investigation progresses and as more details emerge about the motive and circumstances surrounding the homicide. The community remains shaken by the discovery and the rapid sequence of events that culminated in a fatal confrontation over a cab fare.