District Attorney Files Charges in Double-Homicide of Teens

By edhat staff

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney filed charges against three suspects connected to the double-murder of two teens last month during a marijuana deal.

District Attorney (DA) Joyce E. Dudley announced Monday that Bryan Munoz, 21 of Santa Barbara and John Doe, a 15-year-old male, has been charged with the murders of Enzo Rastelli and Jasper Van Der Meulen in adult and juvenile court separately.

Munoz and Doe are believed to have committed the murders for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with the Westside criminal street gang in Santa Barbara, stated DA Dudley.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 600 block of Burtis way in the unincorporated area between Goleta and Santa Barbara, also known as “Noleta,” for reports of gunshots on the afternoon of January 7th. Witnesses in the area reported seeing a suspect flee the scene on foot.

Deputies discovered Rastelli and Pieter van der Meulen, both 19 of Santa Barbara, suffered gunshot wounds to the head. Rastelli was pronounced dead at the scene and Pieter van der Meulen was rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries two weeks later.

The felony complaint filed by the DA’s office states on January 5th, Munoz received a message from Pieter van der Meulen stating the price for a half-pound of marijuana is $1,000. The following day Munoz responded with a message stating, “my bro and I want to go half on the HP would you be able to deliver today?”

On January 7th, Munoz and Pieter van der Meulen agreed to meet to exchange the money for the marijuana. Before the meeting, Munoz and Doe secured fake currency from Joshua Isaac Vega, 24 of Santa Barbara, and discussed robbing Pieter van der Meulen and Rastelli of their marijuana while also securing a 9mm handgun, according to the DA’s felony complaint.

The suspects then met the victims with the intent to commit robbery and Munoz is alleged of using the 9mm handgun to shoot and kill Rastelli and Pieter van der Muelen during the course of the robbery.

Munoz and Doe have been charged with murder, a special circumstance of multiple murders, and special allegations of street terrorism connected to the enhancement of a criminal street gang. Munoz has additionally been charged with the intentional discharge of a firearm. Vega, Munoz, and Doe have all been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

Munoz is eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without parole. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Department 8 of the Superior Court of Santa Barbara on February 8. The arraignment was continued until February 16.

2015 Nissan Altima used during the murders (Credit: SBSO)

On Monday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed Doe was re-booked from last week’s warrant service on additional charges including two counts of murder. As part of their ongoing investigation, Sheriff’s Detectives uncovered evidence linking the juvenile to the double homicide and re-booked him on charges including two counts of murder, special circumstances: more than one offense of murder, special circumstances: murder committed during commission of robbery, robbery, criminal conspiracy, felony committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang, and firearm used in the commission of the crime causing death.

Additionally, Sheriff’s Detectives have impounded the vehicle that was used by the suspects during the commission of the murders. The vehicle, a 2015 black Nissan Altima, was recovered in the Ventura area on Friday, February 5.

Doe has been charged in juvenile court and is subject to being a ward of the court until age 25. He is to be arraigned on the above charges in juvenile court.

Vega was arraigned on the conspiracy to commit robbery charge in Department 8 of the Superior Court of Santa Barbara on April 5, 2021, and faces a maximum of five years in the state prison.

Detectives are interested in hearing from anyone who may have seen the suspects and the vehicle on the night of and days following the murder. Detectives would also like to encourage anyone who has been similarly robbed to contact Sheriff’s Detectives at (805)681-4150, or anyone can leave an anonymous tip by calling (805)681-4171 or online at SBSheriff.org.

February 4, 2021: Raids and Arrests in Double-Homicide Connected to Marijuana Deal