This episode examines four recent reports from the Yakima Herald-Republic that have shaped the local landscape of justice and mystery in early 2026.
The Sprague Discovery: We look into the mysterious death of 26-year-old Aspen Jada Valdez. After disappearing from a vehicle while traveling from St. John to Yakima on February 26, her body was discovered in a backyard in Sprague. Though an autopsy has been performed, authorities have not yet reported signs of foul play.
Sentencing at the Arboretum: We cover the conclusion of a harrowing 2023 case. Mark Lee Tongate, 21, was sentenced to 111 months to life for a rape at the Yakima Arboretum. The investigation relied on DNA analysis from the Washington State Patrol’s crime lab to identify Tongate, who was a Level One sex offender at the time of the attack.
The North Fourth Avenue Shooting: A 19-year-old woman, Ashley García-Romero, was left in critical condition after a shooting on February 26. The suspect, Juan Iván Alonzo Cuevas-Ramos Jr., claimed the shooting was an accident that occurred while he was waving a firearm.
Yakima’s First Homicide of 2026: We detail the tragic shooting on North Fifth Avenue that claimed the life of 16-year-old Jesús Rangel-Magallón. While detectives continue to search for the shooter, a 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rendering criminal assistance by helping the suspect flee the scene.
