East Los Angeles Hit Man Trained by Mexican Cartels

In 2008, Bello was found dead in the backseat of his Audi Q7 on Chamberlain Street in Mission Hills, a stone's throw from the Ronald Reagan Freeway. After police turned up few clues, a detective hired by Efrain discovered that Bello and Smiley had just been involved in a drug deal in which Smiley disliked the quality of the coke and "took it as a great disrespect."

Chavarria and Gonzales believe Smiley kidnapped and probably killed Bello, but LAPD Foothills Division homicide supervisor Jim Freund says, "We can't prove that he was kidnapped. That came from the brother. ... Obviously someone dropped him off in the position" in which he was found, lying in his backseat with a bag pulled over his head.

ILLUSTRATION BY BRYAN STAUFFER

Related Content

• Tagger Accomplice Shot And Wounded a Teenager Who Confronted Them: LAPD Releases Video to Ferret Out Suspects
  July 8, 2011
• Adam Gardenhire, 18, Pioneers Getting Federally Busted For Pointing Laser at Aircraft
  April 19, 2012
• Assaults on L.A. Cops up Nearly 27 Percent in 2011, Even as Crime Went Down
  December 20, 2011
• Skid Row Puts on a Memorial Day Parade Extravaganza -- With the Help of Mr. Brainwash
  May 25, 2012
• Michael Lee, L.A. Rec and Parks Employee, Allegedly Stole 800 Gallons From City Pumps; $6.9 Million in Gas Still Missing
  May 22, 2012

More About

• Jose Saenz
• Oscar Torres
• Bogart Bello
• Murder and Homicide
• Crime and Law

Like this Story?

Get the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Make sign up easy with:

But when it comes to murders and kidnappings in Southern California linked to Jose Saenz, Detective Gonzales says, "People aren't willing to cooperate and talk about what is going on and what is happening."

The killer of his daughter's mother has won silence on the streets of Southern California. Short of a confession from Smiley, Bello's death will go down as accidental, a reminder that the cross-border drug carnage in America's cities — fueled by Smiley and young boys who grow up to be like him, and their willing customers — is never fully measured.

Contact the writer at cpelisek@laweekly.com.