Man booked for murder in death of fellow transient whose body was found in Hanford field

Hanford police have booked Brandon Owen Yates, 34, on first-degree murder charges in the death of Frances Garcia, 44, whose body was found Thursday in an open field.

Lt. James Lutz said Tuesday that Garcia’s body had head trauma, including a stab wound, and succumbed after he was taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center.

Lutz said an investigation determined that Yates and Garcia were both transients and had been seen together in the field, in the 12500 block of 13th Road, and the facts indicated that Yates was responsible for Garcia’s death. Yates was located Monday and arrested.

Anyone with additional information on the case is asked to contact Hanford police homicide detective Johnson at 559-585-4725.

This story was originally published October 13, 2020 at 11:57 AM.