Santa Maria, California Man Gustavo Hernandez Arrested in Santa Barbara County for Fatal Stabbing

Santa Maria, California Man Gustavo Hernandez Arrested in Santa Barbara County for Fatal Stabbing

SANTA MARIA, CA — Gustavo Hernandez, a 59-year-old resident of Santa Maria, was arrested in Santa Barbara County in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man on Sunday evening.

According to the Santa Maria Police Department, Hernandez was taken into custody without incident at a residence near the 300 block of East McElhany Street, where the stabbing occurred. Authorities say the incident took place shortly before 10 p.m., when officers responded to a report of a fight and found 44-year-old Evaristo Ortiz Cortez inside a nearby apartment with stab wounds.

Cortez was transported to Marian Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Hernandez was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail and is currently facing a homicide charge related to the incident. He is being held on $2 million bail.