Public records reveal limited personal history on Raúl and Cathy Sarinana. By late 2005, Raúl (38) and Cathy (28) were living in Corona, California, with their children. They were caring for their nephews—13-year-old Conrad and 11-year-old Ricky Morales—whose mother was incarcerated. The boys had lived with relatives in Washington but were sent back to California under the Sarinanas' care.

Conrad was last reported missing on 8 October 2005 from Randle, Washington, where he and Ricky had been living with the Sarinanas after being sent from California to live with relatives. The couple claimed Conrad had run away. 

On 25 December 2005, anti-poverty charity workers discovered that Ricky was missing. A day later, 26 December, Raul Sarinana called the Corona Police admitting he had assaulted Ricky. Police arriving on Christmas Day found Ricky’s lifeless body hidden in a bedroom closet—he had been brutally beaten for not eating breakfast that morning. An autopsy confirmed Ricky’s death was caused by severe blunt force trauma and torture, inflicted repeatedly and ruthlessly. Food had been used to manipulate his compliance, brutal chest and abdominal blows documented on his body.

Raul and Cathy were officially arrested on December 26 2005, as police uncovered evidence including the barrel containing Conrad’s body and the abused corpse of Ricky. Investigators also found bloodstains throughout the house, particularly in Ricky’s bedroom, proving a prolonged and violent pattern of torture. 

In March 2009, separate juries in Riverside County convicted both Raul and Cathy of first-degree murder and torture for Ricky's death, recommending the death penalty for each. Upon the verdict, Judge Paul Zellerbach upheld the sentence on 2 July 2009. Washington authorities later reviewed Conrad’s case but deferred to California's trial outcome, opting not to pursue separate charges.