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Guatemalan man pleads guilty to murder of CT taxi driver in Putnam County

The Putnam D.A. says 28-year-old Santos Vasquez-Ramirez entered his plea in Putnam Court on Wednesday.

Dave Wolf

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Jun 18, 2026, 2:47 PM

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A Guatemalan man has pleaded guilty to killing a taxicab driver from Connecticut.

The Putnam D.A. says 28-year-old Santos Vasquez-Ramirez entered his plea in Putnam Court on Wednesday.

The victim was 66-year-old Aurlio Orbez, of Danbury.

Authorities say he picked up the suspect near the Brewster train station last December. Orbez’s cab was found abandoned at the Purdy’s Train Station four days later. His body was recovered the next day from the Croton Falls Reservoir.

Officials say that Vasquez-Ramirez was living in the country illegally. He was arrested outside his home in the Town of Pawling several days later.

Vasquez-Ramirez admitted to an altercation with Orbez over a past unpaid fare and strangled him. He faces 21 years to life in prison when he is sentenced in August.

He faces deportation once he is released from prison.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Pawling man faces murder charge in death of man found in Putnam County reservoir

Death of Connecticut man found in Croton Falls Reservoir ruled a homicide

Body recovered from Putnam County reservoir

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