2 brothers will face trial for woman’s killing in SLO County. What to know

Two brothers accused of murdering a Coalinga woman and burning her car will face trial in San Luis Obispo County.

Here’s a look at how the case against Alejandro and Celestino Soriano Ortiz has unfolded since the disappearance of 50-year-old Isabel Lucas Velasco in September 2025.

Here are key takeaways:

• Lucas Velasco, 50, was reported missing Sept. 13, 2025, after last being seen at a rural Arroyo Grande jobsite, and a body believed to be hers was found Oct. 11 during a search of Highway 198 west of Coalinga in rural Fresno County.
• Alejandro Soriano Ortiz, 45, believed to be Lucas Velasco’s boyfriend, was arrested on suspicion of murder and arson, while his brother Celestino Soriano Ortiz, 40, was accused of helping conceal the crimes and burning her vehicle.
• Alejandro also allegedly filed a fraudulent insurance claim on Lucas Velasco’s car after the killing, and both brothers were charged with forging U.S. Permanent Resident Cards bearing counterfeit government seals.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued detainers for both men, though the SLO County Sheriff’s Office said it would only cooperate if the brothers are convicted of qualifying crimes such as murder or arson.
• Both brothers pleaded not guilty to all charges on Nov. 5, 2025, including murder, arson, insurance fraud and green card forgery.
• After a multi-day preliminary hearing, a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge ruled Monday that enough evidence exists to hold the brothers for trial on all charges.
• Prosecutors argued Alejandro killed Lucas Velasco out of jealousy after seeing a Snapchat message from another man on her phone reading “What’s going on my love” in Spanish around 4 p.m. on Sept. 12.
• Witnesses testified that both brothers fabricated alibis that were later contradicted by cellphone geolocation data and video surveillance placing them in the area where Lucas Velasco’s body was later found the night of her disappearance.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.

Chloe Shrager

The Tribune

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Chloe Shrager is the courts and crimes reporter for The Tribune. She grew up in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in Political Science. When not writing, she enjoys surfing, backpacking, skiing and hanging out with her cat, Billy Goat.