The Pawling man in the U.S. illegally may spend the rest of his life behind bars after admitting to killing Brewster-based cabdriver Aurélio Zhunio-Orbez and dumping his body in the Croton Falls Reservoir in December.
In a June 18 press release, Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy said Santos Vasquez-Ramirez, 28, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder before Putnam County Court Judge Anthony Molé, admitting to the intentional killing of Zhunio-Orbez.
Vasquez-Ramirez, who was arrested on Dec. 12, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 26 and is expected to receive an indeterminate prison term of 21 years to life. He remains in custody.
The guilty plea comes six months after a homicide investigation that began when the 66-year-old Danbury resident and father of four was reported missing by his family on Dec. 1, 2025.
According to investigators, Zhunio-Orbez, a taxi driver, picked up Vasquez-Ramirez near the Brewster Metro-North station on Dec. 1. His cab was later found abandoned at the Purdy’s station in Westchester County. Zhunio-Orbez’s disappearance inspired a multiday search until fishermen discovered his body in the Croton Falls Reservoir on Dec. 7.
Zhunio-Orbez was described as a “true example of faith” in a GoFundMe campaign created for his family. As of June 19, that campaign remains nearly $1,000 short of its $18,000 goal.
“Aurélio was a loving father, very responsible in his duties as a citizen, and had great love for animals, especially his dog named Pecas,” organizers noted. “He was devoted to his family, a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a leader of the missionary work. A loving father and a loyal friend. He was known for his kindness, generosity, and willingness to help others. With a look of compassion and love for all those around him, Aurélio was a true example of faith and service. His dedication to the missionary work and to his neighbor was inspiring, and his absence will be felt by all who knew him.”
The arrest in the killing was the result of an intensive investigation by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and numerous local, state and regional law enforcement agencies, which led police to Vasquez-Ramirez, who was arrested Dec. 12 outside his Pawling residence.
At the time of the arrest, Sheriff Brian Hess said Vasquez-Ramirez confessed to killing Zhunio-Orbez after a dispute over a previous unpaid taxi fare. Investigators said he admitted dragging the victim into the woods and into the reservoir off Magnetic Mine Road after the killing.
“The collaboration among agencies in this investigation in tracking down video surveillance, license plate reader footage, witness accounts and other information was phenomenal,” Tendy said. “It was an around-the-clock effort on behalf of the entire Sheriff’s Office to put together hundreds of puzzle pieces that ultimately led to Vasquez-Ramirez’s arrest and plea of guilty.”
At the time of the arrest, PCSO Investigator Benjamin Levine called it “the biggest video canvas I’ve ever seen” and said investigators reviewed footage from hundreds of properties in Putnam and Westchester counties, as well as dozens of trains and platforms, to track the suspect’s movements.
According to the DA’s office, Vasquez-Ramirez also admitted during arrest processing to engaging in a physical altercation with Zhunio-Orbez inside the cab before killing him. Prosecutors said he is in the United States illegally and had an outstanding warrant after failing to appear in court on a 2025 DWI charge.
When announcing Vasquez-Ramirez’s arrest in December, Hess noted that while violent crime is rare in the area, law enforcement was prepared to act quickly.
“Violent crime is not very common in Putnam County, but when a violent crime does occur, we will work tirelessly to solve it, like these investigators did here today,” he said.
The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Breanne Smith and Assistant District Attorney Melissa Lynch.
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