Following an autopsy that found DNA belonging to the suspect under the fingernails of the deceased, a second suspect was charged in connection with the death of a 23-year-old man at a Renton apartment complex.
On July 3, the Renton Police Department reported that it arrested a second suspect in connection with the March 3 death of Axel Enrique Chirinos-Banegas, 23.
On July 8, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Edy Omar Romero-Diaz, 44, of Des Moines, with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree trafficking in stolen property.
Charging documents state that March 5, Chirinos-Banegas was found on the floor of an apartment in the 1100 block of Edmonds Avenue NE in Renton, dead with duct tape covering his mouth and bound with straps. According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Chirinos-Banegas’ cause of death was asphyxia, with combined effects of restrained prone positioning and smothering, and his manner of death was homicide. Additionally, documents state that his body had evidence of multiple blunt force injuries, including bruising to the tongue and anterior strap muscles.
According to documents, Romero-Diaz’s codefendant, who was charged June 5 with the same crimes, is Huy Huu Nguyen, 56, of Enumclaw. Documents state that the pair were seen driving a silver Nissan Sentra on video from traffic cameras and video from the apartment complex where the homicide occurred. Documents state that cellphone GPS location data showed Nguyen moving with the Sentra during the time frame of the homicide. Additionally, documents state that video showed Nguyen and Romero-Diaz exiting the vehicle with empty bags, then returning about 30 minutes later with full bags.
According to documents, Romero-Diaz was the driver and Nguyen was the passenger. Additional evidence linking the pair to the homicide includes Romero-Diaz’s fingerprints inside the Sentra that was later found, and his DNA being found under Chirinos-Banegas’ fingernails. Nguyen’s fingerprints were found on a safe inside the home where Chirinos-Banegas was found deceased.
According to the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention jail lookup portal, Romero-Diaz was booked into the King County Correctional Facility at 5:44 p.m. July 2 and is currently held on a $2 million bail. Romero-Diaz’s next court hearing, scheduled for July 21, is an arraignment where an initial plea will be entered.
Details of the incident
According to documents, March 5, Chirinos-Banegas’ cousin visited Chirinos-Banegas’ residence, stating that he had been unable to get in contact with him in the days preceding the visit. Chirinos-Banegas’ cousin, identified as J.A., said that he entered the home and immediately discovered his cousin’s body on the kitchen floor.
J.A. said that he fled and called 911, reporting that Chirinos-Banegas’ hands and feet were tied and had turned purple. Documents state that when medical aid and officers arrived, they found the victim face down.
According to documents, Chirinos-Banegas had a large amount of orange duct tape covering his mouth and one nostril, and his wrists and ankles were tightly bound, rendering him immobile. Chirinos-Banegas was bound with what appeared to be a black ratchet or tow strap.
Documents state that March 3, Nguyen and Romero-Diaz entered Chirinos-Banegas’ home, and then forcibly restrained him with four-point restraints and covered his mouth and one nostril with duct tape. Nguyen and Romero-Diaz are accused of then stealing items from the home and left Chirinos-Banegas restrained, causing his death.
Upon investigating the home, officers found that most, if not all, cabinets, drawers or doors within the apartment were ajar or wide open as though the home had been searched. Furniture showed evidence of having been moved, and the two bedrooms in the residence showed evidence of having been significantly ransacked and rummaged through, documents state.
According to documents, after searching the residence for latent fingerprints, they found two fingerprints on a safe. On April 10, it was discovered that the prints matched Nguyen’s, documents state. Further evidence linked Nguyen and Romero-Diaz to the crime when, on video outside Chirinos-Banegas’ residence, the pair was seen stepping out of the Sentra carrying what appeared to be empty bags around 10 a.m. The pair was then seen on camera returning to the vehicle about 30 minutes later, carrying bags that appeared full and heavy.
Documents state that phone records captured the Sentra leaving a residence near Hazen High School before the crime, and cellphone towers showed that Nguyen’s cellphone was traveling with the Sentra to Chirinos-Banegas’ residence. Further evidence linked Nguyen to the crime when law enforcement obtained pawn shop records associated with Nguyen. Documents state that Nguyen had made four separate transactions at Elite Pawn, located at 29130 Pacific Hwy. S. Federal Way.
Chirinos-Banegas’ residence was shared with his uncle, who reported various expensive watches as missing. Documents state that Nguyen was found to have sold three watches to the pawn shop, which Chirinos-Banegas’ uncle identified as matching his missing watches.
According to documents, after Romero-Diaz was arrested, he said that he didn’t know anyone who owned a Sentra, he’s never had a Sentra, and he’s never driven one in his entire life. When asked if he knew Nguyen, he said he didn’t know him and that he had never been to Renton before.
