Pawling Man Sentenced for Murder of Brewster Cab Driver

A Pawling man has been sentenced to 21 years to life for the murder of a Brewster cab driver last year.

Santos Vasquez Ramirez, 28, was sentenced last week by Putnam County Court Justice Anthony Mole for the murder of Aurelio Orbez.

According to Putnam County District Attorney Robert Tendy, on Dec. 1, 2025, Orbez, of Danbury, was reported missing by his family after he did not return him from work the night before. Six days later, his body was recovered from the Croton Falls Reservoir in Southeast. On Dec. 6, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office launched a multi-agency homicide investigation that included numerous locations in Westchester and Dutchess counties.

Ramirez quickly became a person of interest and was arrested Dec. 12.

During the investigation, it was learned that Ramirez entered Orbez’s taxi on the morning of Dec. 1, in the vicinity of the Brewster Metro-North train station. Orbez’s cab was seen on local surveillance video traveling toward Railroad Avenue in the village. Approximately 30 minutes later, the cab was captured on the surveillance cameras of several local businesses on Stoneleigh Avenue traveling south toward Route 22, turning right onto Route 22, and continuing toward the Town of North Salem.

Ramirez was then seen on video surveillance boarding a train at the Purdy’s station, where Orbez’s taxi was recovered four days later.

Ramirez fled by train to the Bedford Hills Post Office, where records showed he attempted to use the victim’s Chase credit card, according to Tendy. After the transaction was declined, Ramirez took a cab from Bedford Hills to the Target in Mt. Kisco, where he was seen on surveillance video purchasing men’s clothing before entering the store’s bathroom and exiting several minutes later wearing the clothes he had just purchased.

He then traveled to the Mt. Kisco train station and was seen boarding a northbound train to Southeast, followed by a second northbound train to Pawling, where he arrived at about 6:19 p.m. Dec. 1, noted the district attorney,

Bank records further revealed that Dec. 2, Ramirez unsuccessfully attempted to link the victim’s Chase card to an Android device.

Ramirez admitted to murdering Orbez on June 17, 2026, in Putnam County Supreme Court. Autopsy results indicated Orbez died by strangulation.

“In less than one week, our law enforcement partners identified Ramirez as a suspect, tracked him down, and arrested him for this senseless murder,” said Tendy. “The men and women of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and, notably, members of the Westchester County Police and MTA, conducted a perfectly executed investigation that resulted in a timely prosecution, guilty plea, and lengthy state prison sentence. The way this case came together and how Ramirez was swiftly brought to justice is truly remarkable. It was great police work.”

Orbez’ family spoke at the sentencing and delivered an emotional statement to their father’s killer.

“We do not know whether you will ever care about the pain you caused,” they said. “But there is something you need to know: you did not only kill Aurelio. You took our father from us. You took away years we still had left to live with him, conversations we will never have, and moments we will never be able to recover.”

Recalling Orbez’s famous empanadas, his son William said “that simple memory means a great deal to us because it speaks to the way he brought people together, shared with others, and gave something made with his own hands. Our father had flaws, like any human being, but his life cannot be reduced to the violent way it ended,” said William. “He was a person with a history, dreams, work, relationships, and a family that loved him. His absence has left a space that no one can replace.”

Tendy said justice will never fully be served for those who loved Orbez.

“Their pain is palpable,” he said. “This murderer took away a husband, father, uncle, and respected community member. There is a hole in the Orbez family – and in the community – that will never be filled. This is truly a tragedy.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Breanne Smith and Melissa Lynch.