Modesto Police Arrest Suspect in Boat Ramp Homicide

41-year-old Juan Trujillo Mendoza booked on murder charges for April 9 incident.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:10pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a broken or damaged object, such as a tool or piece of equipment, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing a crucial piece of evidence from the Modesto boat ramp homicide investigation.A stark, gritty close-up of a key piece of physical evidence from the Modesto boat ramp homicide investigation.Modesto Today

Modesto police have arrested 41-year-old Juan Trujillo Mendoza in connection with the homicide of 37-year-old Juan Carreon, who was found dead near a Modesto boat ramp on April 9. Authorities have not released details on how Carreon died or how Mendoza was identified as a suspect, but he has been booked into jail and is facing murder charges.

Why it matters

This arrest marks a significant development in the investigation into the death of Carreon, which occurred in a public area near the Tuolumne River. The Modesto community will be closely watching as the case proceeds, seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

The details

On April 9, Modesto police responded to reports of a person down near the boat ramp along Neece Drive. At the scene, they found 37-year-old Juan Carreon dead with multiple injuries. After investigating, police arrested 41-year-old Juan Trujillo Mendoza on Thursday and booked him into jail on murder charges, but have not released details on how Mendoza was identified as a suspect or the cause of Carreon's death.

  • On April 9, police responded to reports of a person down near the Modesto boat ramp.
  • On Thursday, police announced the arrest of 41-year-old Juan Trujillo Mendoza.

The players

Juan Carreon

A 37-year-old Modesto resident who was found dead near a boat ramp on April 9.

Juan Trujillo Mendoza

A 41-year-old man arrested and booked into jail on murder charges in connection with Carreon's death.

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What’s next

Authorities have not provided a timeline for when more details about the case, including the cause of Carreon's death and how Mendoza was identified as a suspect, will be released to the public.

The takeaway

This arrest is a significant development in the investigation into the homicide that occurred in a public area of Modesto, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding Carreon's death and the community's safety.