Arson Charges Filed, Suspicious Death Investigation Ongoing 

December 27, 2025 – SUTTER COUNTY, CA – Yuba County Sheriff’s Department officials report that on December 18, 2025, at approximately 6:00 a.m., the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a fire in the area of Parks Bar Road near Smartsville. When deputies arrived, Smartsville Fire personnel were extinguishing a fire just off the roadway. Deputies observed that it was a human body that had been on fire.

Yuba County detectives determined that there were multiple jurisdictions involved in this crime. Over the next two days, law enforcement personnel from the Yuba City Police Department, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office, CAL FIRE, and the Yuba and Sutter County District Attorney’s Offices, worked together to investigate the incident. Based on their investigation, Vincent Dorell Ciulei, 50, of Yuba City, was arrested for arson by Yuba County detectives Friday evening on December 19, 2025.

The Sutter County District Attorney’s Office filed arson charges against Ciulei on Tuesday. He was scheduled to be arraigned in Sutter County Superior Court last Tuesday.

Investigators have identified the human remains as belonging to Ciulei’s aunt, Constance Laurel, 82, of Yuba City. Her death is considered suspicious, and the investigation is ongoing. If you believe you have information about this case, please contact Yuba City Police Department at (530) 822-4661.

For news inquiries contact Sutter County Press Information Officer (PIO) Jake Abbott (530) 329-9013.

Source: Yuba County Sheriff’s Department