Teen girl discovered dead in orchard after leaving AutoZone, ex-boyfriend suspected

The former boyfriend of a California teenager who vanished after departing her job at AutoZone—and was found deceased in an orchard three days later—has been convicted guilty of her murder.

Vicente Jasso, who was 23 when detained for the 2023 death of Melanie Camacho, was found guilty on Wednesday of murder in connection with kidnapping and robbery, as noted in online court records accessed by Law&Crime. 

A jury in Madera County convicted him, and he now faces life imprisonment.

Another individual, Jose Lopez-Hernandez, a friend of Jasso, received a three-year prison sentence in February 2025 after admitting guilt to a felony charge of accessory after the fact. He has been released since then.

As stated in a police report, Camacho—whose cause of death has not been publicly disclosed—was last observed "leaving her workplace" at an AutoZone on Gateway Drive in Madera around 10:15pm on November 24, 2023.

"Around 11pm, Melanie texted her mom to inform that she intended to meet a friend after finishing work," the report stated. "When she was not home by morning, Melanie's mom reported her missing at approximately 6:45am."

CCTV footage and witness reports confirmed Camacho, 19, exiting her workplace at AutoZone in her 2014 white Nissan Altima, which was sighted on a nearby road around 10:30pm, roughly half an hour before her mom received the text saying she intended to meet with "a friend."

"Detectives contacted the friend [Camacho] mentioned meeting her mom, who confirmed they never actually met after work, and instead Melanie planned to meet with an 'ex' to either hand over or receive something," the police report highlighted.

It was reported by police that Jasso and Camacho were in a relationship for a few months, ending things shortly before Thanksgiving 2023. 

Jasso's past was noted for domestic abuse that dates back to 2016, as reported by Fresno's ABC affiliate, KFSN.

Two hours after Melanie's mom declared her missing, authorities received alerts about a burning vehicle nearby. It turned out to be Melanie's car.

Eyewitnesses informed the police they saw a blue Ford Mustang with a black hood operational in the same vicinity where her car was discovered. 

Reviewing surveillance visuals, police identified the Mustang as belonging to Lopez-Hernandez.

Lopez-Hernandez was questioned that evening, and police followed through with a search warrant at his residence shortly after.

The warrant findings directed them to the orchard where Melanie was located, situated close to an isolated highway.

By then, police identified Jasso as the prime suspect.

Officers tracked him around 7am the next day, driving through Madera in a minivan. California Highway Patrol made an attempt to halt him, leading to a pursuit with Jasso reaching speeds over 110 mph, as reported by The Fresno Bee.

Authorities reported witnessing Jasso discard some of Camacho's items, like her driver's license, out of the car during the pursuit.