A Washington man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for his role in the cover-up of a 2018 murder of a Yakama Nation woman, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced on Wednesday.
Joshawa Max Estrada, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact. Evidence presented in court revealed the details of the tragic events surrounding the October 2018 murder of Rosenda Strong. On October 5, 2018, Jedidah Iesha Moreno shot Strong during an argument at a residence known as the House of Souls in Wapato, Washington. Moreno then recruited others to help dispose of the body, which was placed in a freezer and later discarded near a towing yard in Toppenish, Washington.
The following day, Moreno shot Andrew Norris Zack during a confrontation at the Estrada Ranch in Wapato. Uriel Balentin Badillo arrived at the scene and later drove Moreno back to the House of Souls. In a shocking turn of events, Moreno was bound with duct tape, placed in the trunk of a Chevrolet Impala, and shot by Badillo. Estrada learned of Moreno’s killing the next day and assisted in moving her body to a more secluded area near White Swan, Washington.
Moreno’s remains were discovered on November 28, 2018, by a citizen who alerted law enforcement, leading to a thorough investigation. Acting U.S. Attorney Barker expressed gratitude for the eyewitnesses who helped the FBI and Yakama Nation Tribal Police identify those responsible for the murders.
Estrada’s sentence serves as part of the ongoing effort to bring justice to the victims and their families.
