Pawling Man Charged With Murder of Brewster Cab Driver
- hollytoal
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Holly Crocco
A Pawling man was arrested last week and charged with the murder of a Brewster cab driver whose body was discovered in the Croton Falls Reservoir five days earlier.
Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, was arrested outside his residence by Putnam County sheriff’s deputies just before 7 p.m. Dec. 12. According to Sheriff Brian Hell, the suspect confessed to the crime after his arrest, while answering questions by investigators.
He has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery, both felonies, and was arraigned in Southeast Town Court.
The sheriff’s office was dispatched Dec. 7 to the reservoir near Daisy Lane after a fisherman discovered a body in the water. Deputies and investigators recovered the deceased male, who was later identified by family members as Aurelio Zhunio-Orbez, 66, a cab driver who had been reported missing by his family to the City of Danbury Police Department on Dec. 1, after he failed to return to the taxi base.
He was last seen at the Brewster train station, picking up a fare around 11:30 p.m.
Following a post-mortem examination, the Office of the Putnam County Coroner ruled the death a homicide.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation initiated an extensive investigation that included a search for Zhunio-Orbez’s black Toyota Sienna livery cab, which was soon found abandoned in the parking lot of the nearby Purdy’s train station and swept for fingerprints and DNA.
A comprehensive review of video surveillance and forensic evidence developed through coordinated efforts with partner agencies led to the identification and arrest of Ramirez.
Zhunio-Orbez was a familiar face in the Village of Brewster, having been a dedicated taxi operator with Orbe’s Taxi Service for many years, regularly transporting commuters to and from the Brewster train station.
“Aurelio served our residents with professionalism and care, safely transporting passengers each day to and from their destinations,” wrote Village Mayor James Schoenig. “As a community, we are left to mourn Aurelio’s loss as we cope with this senseless violence.”
Niece Isabel Alvarado has organized a GoFundMe page to help pay for Zhunio-Orbez’s funeral expenses.
“My uncle was a dedicated father, brother, uncle, and friend,” she wrote. “He was deeply loved within his community and in other communities as well. As a local taxi driver, he built strong connections with the people he served, and many came to appreciate his kindness, generosity, and hard work… We remain hopeful that justice will be served for this atrocious act.”
Hess thanked the sheriff’s office investigators and deputies, the Westchester County Police Department, the Real Time Crime Center, Putnam County District Attorney’s Office, and assisting agencies including Danbury Police Department, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police, Department of Environmental Protection Police, and multiple surrounding law enforcement agencies for their assistance.