Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A 63-year-old man is facing a murder charge in the violent 30-year-old killing of a woman whose nude body was found in the Azusa foothills.

Brian Walton was arrested February 5 by detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. He was officially charged in court with one charge of murder with the special circumstances allegations of murder during the commission of a rape and murder during the commission of sodomy, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Claudia Guevara, 23, went missing February 20, 1996 after her brother, who she was living with in Temple City, said she did not come home. She had been dropped off at a bus stop in El Monte by two co-workers and was never seen again, according to the DA’s office.

Guevara’s naked body was found the next day, tossed in a drainage ditch along Encanto Parkway. She was stabbed in the neck. Forensics investigators determined she was sexually assaulted, according to the DA’s office.

Guevara and Walton apparently did not know each other. DNA evidence links Walton to the assault and murder, according to the DA’s office.

“The victim’s family has waited for an agonizing 30 years to get that call to let them know their loved one’s killer had been found and charged,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

If convicted as charged, Walton faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or death. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date, according to the DA’s office.

Walton was arraigned February 9 in the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. He is scheduled to appear in court again March 18.

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Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man is facing kidnapping and other charges related to the assault of a female Azusa Pacific University September 6.

The suspect, 32 year old Chima Njoku, who also goes by Jake Christopher, found his victim while she was sitting in her vehicle in the Citrus College parking lot, 1000 W. Foothill Blvd., around 6 p.m. He reportedly asked her about the weather and while she was distracted by her phone, entered through an unlocked passenger door, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The victim ordered the suspect out, but he allegedly refused and told her to drive to nearby Azusa Pacific University. Out of fear for her life, she complied.

The victim was told to stop on Shire Lane at the university, where she once again told the suspect to exit. He allegedly then attacked her and attempted to sexually assault her, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect fled before officers arrived.

The victim then directed officers to Alosta Avenue and Calera Avenue, where the suspect was found hiding under a vehicle. The suspect fled, but was caught after a brief foot chase, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect allegedly attempted to assault officers before his arrest.

Njoku, a View Park resident, was booked on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, attempted rape by force or violence knowingly resisting an officer by use of force or violence.

Njoku is being held in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court September 10.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Detectives traveled to Barstow and arrested a 35-year-old Arizona man accused of sending harmful matter to a minor.

Bryan Jacob Medendorp, 35, was officially charged with three counts contacting a minor for sexual offense, distributing or showing pornography to a minor with intent to seduce, and three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

The Azusa Police Department was notified of the alleged crimes February 29 of this year and secured enough evidence to support the allegations. Medendorp, a Bullhead City, Arizona resident, was found in Barstow and arrested March 13.

The pictures and texts were allegedly sent from February 26 through February 29, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

Medendorp allegedly committed the three counts of lewd and lascivious acts December 1, 2022.

Medendorp is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in court April 15.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.