2 Held in Farm Workers’ Slayings; Racism Hinted

Acknowledging an indication of racial overtones in the case, homicide detectives announced Friday the arrest of two San Diego teen-agers in connection with the slayings of two Latino farm workers who were fatally shot Nov. 9.

San Diego police have arrested a 17-year-old youth from Mira Mesa and Dennis Bencivenga, 19, of Rancho Bernardo, on suspicion of murder in the deaths of Hilario Salgado and Matilde de la Sancha, both 18, who were found dead along the 7800 block of Black Mountain Road.

Bencivenga was arrested at his home Friday. The unnamed youth was arrested Thursday at Ft. Benning, Ga., where he was undergoing advanced training in the Army. The youth remained in jail Friday in Georgia, police said. Bencivenga was in County Jail Friday in lieu of $1 million bail.

Homicide Sgt. Frank Martinez said an investigation that has continued since the night of the slayings recently culminated in the arrests of the two teen-agers. Some of the acquaintances of the suspects whom investigators interviewed told police that the two had bragged about the killings, Martinez said. Police declined to say why they believe that the attack may have been racially motivated.

Martinez said police believe the youths may have intended to rob the victims, but that nothing was taken from them. Witnesses arrived immediately after the shots had been fired about 8 p.m.

Police estimate the truck was about 10 feet away when the victims, walking along the road, were shot “several times each” by a high-powered, .223-caliber semiautomatic assault rifle. Police declined to say which of the suspects is believed to have done the shooting.

None of the witnesses who aided police in the inquiry actually saw the shootings, Martinez said, adding that people near the scene did not hear the assailants say anything before the shooting.

The victims, who had temporary work permits and were applicants for amnesty, were on their way to Rancho Penasquitos when they were shot, Martinez said.

The case has been handed over to the district attorney’s office and, based on witnesses’ statements, the death penalty may be considered for the suspects, who were both employed and “came from pretty good families,” Martinez said.