Written by AARON CASTREJON 
CityWatch Editor 

LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s investigators announced the recovery of a girl who was reported missing after her custodial mother absconded with her nearly six years ago.

A March 6tip led to the discovery of Karen Rojas, 11, who was found in Asheville, North Carolina. Deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office located Rojas Marxh 10 who was attending school in that county. She remains in protective custody, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Rojas was reported missing by the Department of Child and Family Services July 1, 2020. DCFS told Sheriff’s Temple Station detectives that an investigation was ongoing involving Rojas. The girl’s mother stopped communicating DCFS personnel and was believed to have taken her daughter.

Rojas was given an alias after being taken.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators continue to work with DCFS and Washington County authorities.

“These are very rare occurrences to have such a positive outcome on such an old case as this, but it reminds us that through hard work, and dedication, and cooperation. Stories with positive outcomes like these can happen,” according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

It is not publicly clear if any arrests have been made yet.

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A man who shot himself to death in a vehicle Tuesday was charged last year with allegedly recording victims in Kentucky clothing stores.

Yogi Wilson, 31, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the parking lot outside Walmart, 1600 Mountain Ave., according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

First responders were called to the Walmart before 1 p.m. February 24. Wilson was found inside a Chevrolet Impala.

According to a CityWatch reader, Walmart employees heard a scream and checked the car, motioning to security personnel that a man killed himself with a weapon.

Sgt. Ortega of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station was unsure if anyone else was with Wilson when he killed himself.

Wilson was arrested April 22, 2025. According to a St. Matthews Police Department citation, he was taking video or photos over a partition in an Old Navy women’s dressing room. Witness descriptions helped police arrest him.

Wilson reportedly has a history of such crimes, having allegedly performing the same crime in the dressing rooms of a Forever 21 in the same mall where Old Navy is located. He allegedly admitted to photographing at least five women April 22 and a juvenile the day prior.

The juvenile was 13 years old.

In 2015, Wilson was arrested and accused of peering through the window of an occupied home.

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.


Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A 15-year-old frozen hiker was saved from a sopping wet mountainside after getting stranded on a ridge November 20.

The teen was able to call 9-1-1 and told dispatchers of his location in the foothills above Bradbury Canyon. First responders were sent around 6:33 p.m., according to the City of Duarte.

Inclement weather prevented the teen from setting back home.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station, the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team converged on the teen. He was located with the help of thermal imaging and with the use of a drone about two hours later a half mile east of Bliss Canyon Road.

The teen was medically assessed and was determined to be mildly hypothermic. He was given extra clothing and warming methods were applied while he was taken to an extraction point where a Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter airlifted him to safety and for further medical assessment, according to the City of Duarte.

“This rescue showed the strength of coordinated public safety response,” said Larry Breceda, Director of Public Safety for the City of Duarte. “Our new drone program proved essential in quickly locating the hiker and giving ground crews the information they needed. I’m proud of the teamwork between our Public Safety staff, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue, and LA County Fire. Their quick actions ensured this young man received the help he needed.”

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Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Residents and city leaders will have an opportunity to voice their concerns over a processing site set up in Irwindale to sort out toxic debris from the Eaton Fire.

The town hall is scheduled for Wednesday, January 29 at 6 p.m. at the Duarte Performing Arts Center, 1401 Highland Ave.

California Sen. Susan Rubio will be hosting the town hall featuring representatives from the California Environmental Protection Agency, United States Environmental Protection Agency and other public officials.

The Environmental Protection Agency has already prepped and set up operations at the Lario Staging Area, 15701 E. Foothill Blvd. The cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte and Irwindale allege they did not receive advanced notification about the debris processing site, nor were the cities given the opportunity to register concerns about potential soil, water and air contamination.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A shirtless man was arrested September 16, after he allegedly attempted to assault an Amazon delivery driver by swinging a metal pole at him.

The aggravated assault took place in the 1400 block of Buena Vista Street around 11:30 a.m. The driver was at the location delivering a package when he noticed the suspect approach him in an aggressive manner while swinging a pole, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

“The suspect proceeded to run towards the victim while yelling profanities. The suspect got within a few feet of the victim while swinging the pole at him in an attempt to hit him. The victim, fearing for his safety, began to run away,” according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station in a written statement.

Deputies located and detained the suspect. During the detention, the suspect allegedly assaulted one of the deputies, according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Some equipment was stolen, some damaged during a grand theft at a charging station.

A suspect or suspects removed several charging station charging cables and damaged the switch gear box at EVgo, 1425 Bradbury Ave., between 12 a.m. June 20 and September 4, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The loss was approximately $70,000.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A home was reportedly ransacked in an afternoon burglary August 31.

The burglary occurred around 3:42 p.m. in the 1300 block of Highland Avenue. After entering the home, a burglar stole $7,500 in cash from a suitcase, a Gucci purse and a security camera that was disabled, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Before the camera was disabled and removed, it recorded a Latino man in an orange construction shirt, reflective vest and gardener-style hat inside the home.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Tracking devices helped deputies locate and apprehend at least two of the four suspects accused of robbing a cellphone store and leading deputies on a pursuit.

The four suspects, described as Black males wearing hooded sweatshirts, sweatpants and ski masks, entered an AT&T store, simulated handguns tucked in their waistbands and ordered an employee to open a safe. Fearing for his life, the employee complied, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The AT&T store is located at 1243 Huntington Dr. The robbery was reported around 5:48 p.m. June 23.

The suspects stole 50 cell phones and other electronic items. They fled in a silver Chevy sedan.

“The cell phones were equipped with a tracking device, which assisted law enforcement in locating the suspect vehicle a short time later. After a short pursuit two of the suspects were apprehended,” according to the Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

It is unclear if any other suspects were caught at a later date.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - The person of interest detained after a man died from an altercation in Duarte Wednesday was released pending further investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The death stemmed from a neighbor intervening in a fight between a man and woman who detectives said were in a prior dating relationship. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Temple Station were called to a house in a 2500 block of Maynard Drive around 6:49 p.m. June 26 to a domestic assault call.

During the intervention, the man grabbed a tire iron from a nearby vehicle. The neighbor and the man got into a struggle. The man was subdued by the neighbor and taken to the ground. Deputies arrived and found the man unconscious. He was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Everyone involved in this incident know each other. The incident is being handled as a death investigation, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A man hospitalized Wednesday evening later died from his suspicious injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A person of interest was detained at the scene in the 2500 block of Maynard Drive. First responders were sent to the home around 6:49 p.m., according to Sheriff’s Homicide investigators.

Detectives have yet to elaborate on the nature of the initial response to the home, nor a possible motive in this suspicious death.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.