Man charged in kidnapping and torture case now faces witness intimidation charge
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Jorge Luis Balderas | Bonneville County Jail
IDAHO FALLS — Investigators say a man accused of kidnapping and torture allegedly intimidated a co-conspirator who placed him at the crime.
The Idaho Falls Police Department investigated a kidnapping that resulted in a woman’s torture in 2020. Jorge Luis Balderas, 26, is awaiting trial in the case alongside his girlfriend, Sasha Dee Martinez, 33, ex-girlfriend Laura Zamudio, 28, and Zamuido’s boyfriend at the time, Austin Alverado, 23.
Balderas allegedly had a video call on March 13 with Martinez, who sat behind bars at the Bonneville County Jail. Balderas had previously bailed out. In the call, Balderas is alleged to have directed Martinez to have attacks put out on other inmates but also threatened her so she would retract the statements she gave to authorities.