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Hilmar duo found, charged with murder
Hilmar homicide duo
Dominick Rufo, 29, of Hilmar and Brandy Bettencourt-Costa, 32, of Hilmar were both wanted for the death of Jasper Gray, 38.

The two Hilmar residents wanted for a fatal shooting outside Hot Rod's Diner in Hilmar were apprehended in Baja California, Mexico on Monday, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Dominick Rufo, 29, of Hilmar and Brandy Bettencourt-Costa, 32, of Hilmar were both wanted for the death of Jasper Gray, 38.

Deputies were dispatched to the restaurant on Lander Avenue in Hilmar at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 19, for a report of a shooting. Gray was found at the scene dead from a gunshot wound.

After a three-month-long investigation, it was determined that Rufo and Bettencourt had fled to Baja California, Mexico. Merced Sheriff’s Investigators worked closely with the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Taskforce and the U.S. Marshals Mexico Investigative Liaison Team out of the Southern District of California in coordination with Mexican Authorities to locate Rufo and Bettencourt.

Around 3:30 p.m. Monday Rufo and Bettencourt were taken into custody and are currently being transported to Merced County. Rufo and Bettencourt will be booked into the Merced County Jail on charges of homicide.