News12 New York
N12 Originals
Numbers & Links
Local
Crime
Weather
Politics
Taxing Long Island
Stony Brook Medicine
Vote 2026: Long Island primaries

Guatemalan man pleads guilty to murder of CT taxi driver in Putnam County

The Putnam D.A. says 28-year-old Santos Vasquez-Ramirez entered his plea in Putnam Court on Wednesday.

Dave Wolf

Jun 18, 2026, 2:47 PM

Updated

Share:

More Stories

A Guatemalan man has pleaded guilty to killing a taxicab driver from Connecticut.

The Putnam D.A. says 28-year-old Santos Vasquez-Ramirez entered his plea in Putnam Court on Wednesday.

The victim was 66-year-old Aurlio Orbez, of Danbury.

Authorities say he picked up the suspect near the Brewster train station last December. Orbez’s cab was found abandoned at the Purdy’s Train Station four days later. His body was recovered the next day from the Croton Falls Reservoir.

Officials say that Vasquez-Ramirez was living in the country illegally. He was arrested outside his home in the Town of Pawling several days later.

Vasquez-Ramirez admitted to an altercation with Orbez over a past unpaid fare and strangled him. He faces 21 years to life in prison when he is sentenced in August.

He faces deportation once he is released from prison.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Pawling man faces murder charge in death of man found in Putnam County reservoir

Death of Connecticut man found in Croton Falls Reservoir ruled a homicide

Body recovered from Putnam County reservoir

More Stories

Top Stories

01:53
RTLIBethpageStatePkwyPetitionJRGaertner10pm_2026-06-20-22-07-48

Residents who live near Bethpage State Parkway call for stronger safety measures after fatal crash on roadway

01:45
HV HOLIDAY FORECAST SPONSOR

Sunny and warm Father's Day on Long Island before soaking rain and thunderstorms arrive Monday

00:34
Stabbing Incident Generic

Man accused of stabbing roommate at Long Island equestrian center

00:34
620newbeatingsuspect_2026-06-20-06-04-02

New arrest made in Shirley man’s gruesome beating death

01:46
JaxsonDartinWestport_2026-06-20-18-13-12_18-06-00,21

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart hosts football camp at Staples High School in Westport

00:31
620jewlerytheft_2026-06-20-07-13-38

Home health aide accused of stealing nearly $10K in jewelry from East Setauket family

00:29
Serious crash in New Haven critically injures 2 people

2 people seriously injured in Huntington Station crash

00:25
ambulance generic

Man pulled from Huntington Station pool hospitalized in serious condition

00:51
li10pmbolwavetwister_2026-06-19-22-04-58

Malfunction temporarily traps guests on Adventureland ride

01:59
li10pmboljennaupate_2026-06-19-22-25-08

Big events bring heavy traffic to Long Island this holiday weekend

01:47
li5pmbolnews12liregents_2026-06-19-17-11-25

Parents raise concerns over ‘unfair’ state science Regents Exams

01:22
li5pmfirefighterdadanddaughterjulia_2026-06-19-17-22-06

‘A bond we share.' Father and daughter work together to fight fires and protect community

02:29
solsltice sunset

Summer begins this Sunday with over 15 hours of daylight for Father’s Day

00:45
LIPalOMine619_2026-06-19-21-20-11

Pal-O-Mine Equestrian hosts ‘The Mane Event’ to celebrate Year of the Horse

00:29
power outage

Power outage affects three Long Island beaches

01:54
LIWorldCupWatch6195p_2026-06-19-17-17-17

World Cup watch parties, US Open & Father’s Day make for hectic weekend on LI roads

00:26
governor's

Man stabbed after argument at Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown

00:23
DWI CRASH

Oceanside man arrested for DWI after striking 78-year-old pedestrian

01:44
LISeelig6619_2026-06-19-06-15-26

More traffic concerns as 25K fans expected at Shinnecock Hills for U.S. Open

AP26170714954300

Despite Christian Pulisic’s absence, US beats Australia 2-0 to advance to World Cup knockout round

App StoreGoogle Play Store

info

Newsletter

Send Photos/Videos

Contact

About Us

News Team

News 12 New York

follow us

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

more resources

Optimum Corporate

Optimum Service

Advertise on News 12

Careers

Content Removal Policy

© 2026 N12N, LLC

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Ad Choices