Suspect in Laytonville murder turned himself in, sheriff issues press release

WILLITS, CA., 11/16/25 – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has issued a press release concerning the arrest of Zachary Wuester, the alleged murderer of Jeffrey Settler. According to the release Wuester had been in contact with a federal deputy marshal who convinced him to turn himself in. Wuester was apprehended on Monday night, at about 9:25pm, in the 100 block of E Commercial St. in Willits, near the sheriff’s substation, without incident. He was booked under 187 and 211 of the California penal code: murder and robbery. His bond was set at $650,000.

Law enforcement is still seeking several other people in connection to the murder, including  Gary “Cricket” Blank III, Gary “Giggles” Fitzgerald, Jesse Wells, Michael Kane, Frederick “Freddy” Gaestel and Amanda Weist. Additional there is another man known as “Richie” that has not been identified yet. He is described as “a black male adult, approximately 25 years of age, thought to possibly be from the San Diego area.”