Suspect in Overdose Deaths Returned to Ellensburg from Hawaii

A man suspected in the drug overdose deaths of two people in Kittitas County is in the county jail after police say he fled to Hawaii.

Jonathan Rivera-Venegas of Ellensburg faces controlled substance homicide charges in the overdose death of a 16-year-old boy (Mateo Quintero-Castano) and a 21-year-old (Sage Francois), who both died last August.

Rivera-Venegas was reported to have fled Washington state to avoid arrest, but was captured by Honolulu Police on October 5, with the assistance of the Yakima Federal Violent Crimes Task Force.

The extradition process took more than three months before Rivera-Venegas was returned to Ellensburg last Friday.

He was transported by the United States Marshall’s and booked into the Kittitas County Jail for two counts of Controlled Substance Homicide, a Class B Felony. Each count holds a maximum sentence of 10 years confinement.

 Rivera-Venegas faces additional charges related to the sale and delivery of drugs.