San Leandro Man Charged With Murder for Cherryland Fire Death

By Bay City News

A San Leandro man has been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly killing in unincorporated Hayward in November, Alameda County sheriff's officials said today.

Alex Olachea, 27, has already been arraigned on the charge that he murdered and was scheduled to return to Alameda County Superior Court in Hayward this afternoon to be assigned an attorney and possibly enter a plea.

The investigation began when firefighters responded to reports of a fire at that residence at about 7:50 a.m. on Nov. 29. When firefighters put out the blaze, they discovered Casias' dead body inside the house and turned the matter over to sheriff's investigators, who treated the death as a homicide.

An autopsy later revealed that Casias died as a result of foul play, sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson said. Nelson said he did not know the exact cause of death of Casias, who was identified through dental records.

Olachea had already been in custody since Nov. 30 on unrelated charges and investigators ultimately identified him as the person they believe killed Casias, Nelson said.

Sheriff's investigators also determined that Olachea was responsible for a non-fatal shooting in November several days before the fire, Nelson said.

Olachea is charged with attempted murder for that incident, according to Nelson. Olachea is being held at the county jail in Dublin without bail.

Anyone with information about either case can call Detective Pat Smyth at (510) 725-5494 or Detective James McGrail at (510) 529-5493.

People can also call an anonymous tip line at (510) 667-3622.