One of the Trimmers Wanted for Laytonville Area Homicide Arrested

Zachary Ryan Wuester

Zachary Ryan Wuester

A trimmer wanted in the slaying of Jeffrey Quinn Settler, age 35, of Laytonville was arrested this morning and booked into the Mendocino jail at 8:16 a.m. Zachary Ryan Wuester, age 24 of New Jersey, was picked up in Willits, according to Mendocino County Jail records. He was booked for murder and fleeing from justice. His bond is set at $650,000.

Wuester, and four other individuals, were sought for the death of Settler in what the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office said was a violent assault. BoLO’s issued for the suspects mention they may be armed with knives. The Mendocino Sheriff’s Office press release stated that the suspects are “believed to have stolen over 100 pounds of processed marijuana.” At this time, none of the other suspects are known to be arrested.  We have contacted the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office and requested more information.

According to  the Mendocino Voice, the victim, Jeffery Settler had lived in the area for about 15 years and been a cannabis farmer. (See image of him here.)

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52 Comments
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Holly Brown
Guest
Holly Brown
7 years ago

That bond seems low for homicide.

Ecl
Guest
Ecl
7 years ago
Reply to  Holly Brown

He’s on a more bail status due to east coast narcotics warrants according to another article so that would make the amount kind of irrelevant in this case so it may be why they haven’t pushed for more plus the fact that he had been talking to a Marshall and agreed to surrender without incident

Growler
Guest
Growler
7 years ago

Well he sure didn’t get as far as they suspected. Like to know did they just find him walking down Main St.?

Ecl
Guest
Ecl
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Another article says the park behind the substation in willits

Berned
Guest
Berned
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Hey Kim.No I am not the one who saw Geastel in redway liquor Sunday at 3:30 p.m.The store clerk did and notified police.Rest of em rumored to have been spotted in Eureka.

Overtime
Guest
Overtime
7 years ago
Reply to  Berned

I hear that 2 have been spotted in Tahoe and police are closing in over there…

Justsayin
Guest
Justsayin
7 years ago
Reply to  Overtime

Which ones?

Katie
Guest
Katie
7 years ago
Reply to  Growler

He turned himself in

Honeydew Bridge Chump
Guest
Honeydew Bridge Chump
7 years ago

He’ll get prison if convicted…

Did they catch him with the weed/cash, or did his crew rip him as well?

Those things tend to happen with dirty deals…

Wouldn’t shock me if the chick made off with all the goods, just call me Hollywood – like where the moon landings came from.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago

$650,000!!!! That’s ridiculous!

Shaka
Guest
Shaka
7 years ago

65K and he’s free wow only in the triangle!

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
7 years ago
Reply to  Shaka

x10 but yes

the misadventures of bunjee
Guest
the misadventures of bunjee
7 years ago

10% of the bail is $65k. That’s all he needs to come up with for his get-out-of-jail card. Some paperwork, a summons to appear, and it’s goodbye. They’ll be looking in Mexico for him.

Mike
Guest
Mike
7 years ago

Maybe he can sell his stolen weed so he can bail out and run again.

Liz
Guest
Liz
7 years ago

Only his mama will give up $65,000.

Katie
Guest
Katie
7 years ago
Reply to  Liz

I know her, she doesn’t have it

Yakitarian
Guest
Yakitarian
7 years ago

Nobody is putting up 65k for this thieving degenerate.

Mr. Bear
Guest
Mr. Bear
7 years ago

He’ll need 10% and a hell of a lot of collateral. A house or two might do it.

Catie
Guest
Catie
7 years ago

For a murder the bail is only 500,000. They probably added the fleeing charge to that and special allegations he may have. It’ll most likely go up when he appears in court. You can look up the bail schedule for the county online.

Guest
Guest
Guest
7 years ago

Murder and robbery = no bail / life in prison anywhere else In this country for all involved wtf

Pack Leader
Guest
Pack Leader
7 years ago

May true justice prevail.

Tailgate
Guest
Tailgate
7 years ago
Reply to  Pack Leader

You mean like the kind for wealthy people?

Huh ?
Guest
7 years ago
Reply to  Tailgate

Yeah , those evil wealthy people .

Inevidable stupidity in this
Guest
Inevidable stupidity in this
7 years ago

He will get offered the deal.

Growler
Guest
Growler
7 years ago

You may be right. If you look at the address where he was picked up, it looks like he may have turned himself in.

Zippy
Guest
Zippy
7 years ago

His deal will be life in prison, no parole. Or if he has a good lawyer 25 – life. Parole after 20 years.

Ras Paddles
Guest
Ras Paddles
7 years ago

Yes Great Job Sheriff! Lets Fry this Guy and send a message to murderers and thieves!

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago

I’m really glad to hear this. Hope the others follow soon. Thank you Kym for your timely reporting–this case has been obsessing me. Good to see some progress.

Ecl
Guest
Ecl
7 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

Updated bolo information on the willits news as of this evening. New cars and people to watch for

TC
Guest
TC
7 years ago

24 y/o. what a waste, sad really….

Tailgate
Guest
Tailgate
7 years ago

For expert legal advice and opinion, I always turn to the comment section of the Redheaded Blackbelt. It’s where all the pros hang out.

O. Crimony
Guest
O. Crimony
7 years ago
Reply to  Tailgate

Tell us something we don’t know already! HeHe

Krispy Kritter
Guest
Krispy Kritter
7 years ago

So this criminal mastermind did not flee the area, after the alleged murder! What was he thinking after his face has been plastered all over the internet/ news.

All of the press releases I have seen only show 3 wanted suspects. Who are the other two of the five wanted suspects mentioned in this article??

I also think maybe Amanda Weist may have taken their ill gotten gains out of the area, and left the others “holding the bag”, so to speak.

Just another reason not to hire those trimmigants often seen sitting along the side of the road asking for work each season!!

eric
Guest
eric
7 years ago
Reply to  Krispy Kritter

Who cares what you THINK about Amanda???? You know very well that’s how rumors start. You know nothing of her.

scooter
Guest
7 years ago
Reply to  eric

I know she is wanted for her part of a vicious murder. I also have read of encounters others have had in the county with her involving thievery.

Anything else we need to know?

Overtime
Guest
Overtime
7 years ago

Sounds like he turned himself in? Smart. The deals will go to the people who did not deliver the killing blow and who take the deal first. Expect a couple of the participants to deliver testimony against the rest and receive lighter sentences as a result. No eye witnesses were left alive and so the DA would like testimony from participants to ensure 1 or 2 murder convictions. Yeah, I’m guessing all this but we know how it rolls. It sounds like there were knives involved in the assault? Well, don’t expect the guy with the knife to step forward- he’s probably the one getting the death penalty.

Muggin'
Guest
Muggin'
7 years ago

Drug dealers get robbed and murdered all the time. It’s a well known and inherent risk of drug trafficking. I’m surprised we don’t hear about this happening around here more often.

Neighbor
Guest
Neighbor
7 years ago
Reply to  Muggin'

“Bible says to wish death on someone is same as killing them so…”

Hmm… Then what’s it say about wishing someone to go F themselves?

I suppose it means the same as F’ing them.

Alpha
Guest
Alpha
7 years ago
Reply to  Muggin'

Does running a vineyard come with the inherent risks of drug manufacturing and trafficking? You should calm down and lay off your substance..

long live marijuana farmers!
Guest
long live marijuana farmers!
7 years ago
Reply to  Muggin'

that’s because it doesn’t happen around here more often. every year about 10,000 grows are harvested and manicured by hired help. some of them year round. safely double that if you count both humboldt and mendocino counties. do the math. this is a very peaceful and trusting place. people with the attitude you have usually don’t make it through an outlaw’s front door. your kind is not welcome “in the hills”.

Life is Good
Guest
Life is Good
7 years ago

This jackass is going to give up all the other four losers. Just a matter of time.

Ecl
Guest
Ecl
7 years ago
Reply to  Life is Good

There have been more suspects added see the willits news update on bolo

Morgan
Guest
Morgan
7 years ago

I heard it wasn’t him. His friend

Honeydew Bridge Chump
Guest
Honeydew Bridge Chump
7 years ago
Reply to  Morgan

I could see the chick being behind the entire thing.

Women with tattoos should never be trusted.

Katie
Guest
Katie
7 years ago

I have 6 tattoos… don’t stereotype…. I also know Zachary… he’s a pretty chill calm guy… I have a hard time believing he was part of the violence, the robbery I believe

Mom
Guest
Mom
7 years ago

If you’ve got one or two people involved in a crime there’s a good chance they’ll keep quiet. But 5-7 people?! Someone’s going to roll! Guaranteed. Plea deal, what ever.

Really?
Guest
Really?
7 years ago

Kym- Your site is slipping? This is a very important story to many of us! I imagine there’s a good reason but…I read an update over a day ago on both Mendocino Voice and even Lost Coast Outhouse. There was a police report put out with updated BOLO information that you have not run. There are reports that others may be in the Eureka area? I’m looking to your commenters for recent updates and that is not a good thing! (Sorry guys!)

Gazoo
Guest
Gazoo
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Don’t worry, some of us understand your superhero status!

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
7 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You’ve got a life and people you care about! I think you do a great job, and you were on the fact of Wuester being picked up hours before LoCO was. I am following this case avidly. Thank you for the coverage.

Outlawseqouia
Guest
Outlawseqouia
7 years ago

I spent my summer in Laytonville, and I appreciate all the people that gave me a chance to earn a fair wage. I learned a lot. Wouldn’t dream of robbing or hurting anyone, the few people that burned me, I just don’t work for again. Thank you, good people.