Son arrested for the murder of 62-year-old mother in central Fresno, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The lights remained on in Shirla Ramirez's Central Fresno home Wednesday night, two days after her battered body was found inside.

Just after 3:30 pm Monday, police had gone to the 62 year-old's home near Cortland Avenue and Ninth Street just after coworkers requested a welfare check.

Her coworkers also told police she had called out of work on Friday, citing family issues.

Evidence at the scene would lead police to another incident and their suspect.

Wedged in the door of the home was a California Highway Patrol officer's card.

When police called, they learned Shirla's car was involved in a crash in West Fresno County and her son 35-year-old Brad Ramirez was arrested not far from the scene.

He was taken to the hospital.

When he was released just after midnight Wednesday, police arrested him on a murder charge.

The murder rocked what neighbors call a quiet street.

Action News spoke with one resident who didn't want to be identified.

"It's quite shocking, to be honest. Little neighborhood where I live, two houses down people were murdered."

'You never know when people are just going to turn on you and I think that's very shocking for me and very scary."

Shirla's death marks the first homicide in Fresno in 2025.

This time last year there were already two.

Interim Chief Mindy Casto says this type of homicide typically only accounts for a few.

"I was looking into it. We average two or three immediate family-related murders every year. Last year we had two and this year this would be the first one for us," said Casto.

According to Casto, Brad has prior charges, including a 2014 charge for assault with a deadly weapon, though she says the charges are not related to his mother.

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