ICE issues detainers for 2 SLO County homicide suspects in death of missing woman
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- ICE issued detainers for two homicide suspects held in San Luis Obispo County.
- Brothers Alejandro and Celestino Soriano Ortiz arrested after a body was found.
- SLO County will honor ICE requests only if convictions meet qualifying crimes.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued detainers for two homicide suspects, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Brothers Alejandro Soriano Ortiz, 45, and Celestino Soriano Ortiz, 40, were arrested in connection to the killing of 50-year-old Isabel Lucas Velasco on Saturday.
Lucas Velasco was reported missing in San Luis Obispo County on Sept. 13 under what the SLO County Sheriff’s Office described at the time as “suspicious circumstances.” She was last seen at a jobsite in rural Arroyo Grande on Sept. 12, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Monday.
Investigators found a body they believe to be Lucas Velasco on Saturday during an extensive search of Highway 198, west of Coalinga. The body has been turned over to the San Luis Obispo County Coroner’s Office for identity confirmation.
Alejandro Soriano Ortiz was believed to be the ex-boyfriend of Lucas Velasco. Both were from Coalinga, while Celestino Soriano Ortiz was from Santa Maria, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Alejandro Soriano Ortiz was accused of murdering Lucas Velasco and setting fire to her vehicle. His brother was also accused of setting fire to her vehicle and helping his brother conceal the crimes.
Both brothers were still in San Luis Obispo County Jail custody without bail as of Tuesday afternoon. The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office had not filed formal charges against either brother as of Tuesday afternoon.
Tony Cipolla, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that ICE sent detainers for both men.
He noted that California law prohibits local law enforcement from detaining individuals on the basis of an immigration detainer, but it does have exceptions for individuals with qualifying prior convictions, current convictions or federal arrest warrants.
Homicide and arson, which Alejandro Soriano Ortiz was suspected of, are considered a qualifying violent crime offenses, Cipolla said. Celestino was also suspected of arson, a qualifying crime, but accessory after the fact, which he is also suspected of, is not considered a violent crime under California law.
Cipolla said the agency would comply with ICE upon request if the men are convicted of qualifying crimes.
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 2:33 PM.
