The Merced County Sheriff’s department announced nine total arrests from the departments investigation, five of which are in direct connection to the death of a Merced woman who was set on fire and left to die last month.

Investigators say Rosa Avina was tied up and burned in a pile of debris near Ballico in Merced County. She managed to undo her bindings and get help, but died two days later.

During a news conference Wednesday, Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin said the crime was committed in retaliation over unpaid drug debts.

Sheriff Pazin said Avina apparently owed the men around $750 for marijuana and crystal methamphetamine she received.

Omar Cebrero, 18, of Turlock, Alvaro Reyes, 29, of Livingston, Luis Valencia, 24, of Delhi, were charged with Murder, Conspiracy, Torture, Mayhem, Kidnapping. Urbano Ortega, 27, was charged with Conspiracy, Torture, Mayhem, Kidnapping. Renulfo Ortega, 23, of Livingston, was charged with Accessory to Murder, Conspiracy, and unrelated narcotic warrants.

According to investigators the men lured Avina to a drug house which she believed to be safe, then staged a home invasion robbery in order to tie her up.

Although there was speculation that Avina’s murder was a hate crime, Sheriff Pazin said that was not the case.

As a result of the investigation, four other men were arrested in connection to the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Turlock.

Elver Torrez, 24, of Livingston, was charged with possession of narcotics for sales, immigration hold. Ezequiel Rios, 32, Pedro Vasquez, 31, and Victor Gonzalez, 30, all of Turlock, were charged with sexual assault, and immigration hold.

The men are believed to be associates of the five other suspects.

Sheriff Pazin said some of the suspects in Avina's death could also face rape charges.

The Sheriff's Department said three of the men arrested will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Department.