Corrales remembrance ceremony affected by ongoing case

Unlike the two previous years when observances were held honoring the memory of Amancio Corrales, this year authorities have a suspect in custody in connection with the slaying of the female impersonator.

"Of course we are extremely pleased, but this year is going to be a little more low key," said Michael H. Baughman, Amancio Project founder and media liaison for Corrales' family. "This year is geared to be smaller and more somber. We have to be more careful because there is a suspect in custody."

Baughman said they almost considered not having an observance this year, but decided to go ahead with one at the last minute because of how important it is to the family.

"There is just a lot at stake right now," Baughman said.

Yuma County sheriff's deputies arrested Ruben Solorio, 23, of 2202 W. 17th St., on May 23 at Express Lube, 1900 S. 4th Ave., where he had been working.

He was booked into Yuma County jail on one count of second-degree murder in Corrales' death, but that charge was downgraded to manslaughter, according to court records.

An anonymous written tip to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office led to Solorio's arrest, according to YCSO.

A follow-up investigation revealed Solorio had confessed to family members soon after the murder, allegedly telling them how he had killed Corrales.

He then fled to Mexico the same day of the killing, eventually making his way to Guadalajara for three months, according to court records.

Court records said "multiple witnesses provided detailed information of how the defendant murdered the victim."

After his stay in Mexico, he returned to Yuma, where he was eventually arrested.

Solorio, who has been in custody at the county jail for the past year since his arrest in the killing, had been on intensive probation at the time of the alleged murder, court records indicated.

Public court records show Solorio's 10 court appearances began in February 2002 for offenses including unlawful imprisonment, endangerment, disorderly conduct, hit and run, theft and alien smuggling.

Solorio was originally charged with second-degree murder in Corrales' case, but a grand jury, meeting the following month, returned a "no-bill" in Solorio's case. A "no-bill" means the grand jury refused to indict Solorio on the charge the Yuma County Attorney's Office filed against him.

Instead, it returned a "true-bill," or indictment against Solorio, charging him with manslaughter and abandoning a body.

The final trial management conference is scheduled for July 16, and the trial is set to begin Aug. 6.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.