Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Authorities have named the man found dead near the westbound 210 freeway at Michillinda July 16. 35-year-old Thomas Jasper IV was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. His body was found in a crawlspace at the westbound 210 freeway at Michillinda Avenue.
Arcadia Firefighters arrived to the scene and declared Jasper dead at 10:59 a.m., the California Highway Patrol said. Jasper’s cause of death has been deferred, pending additional investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON City Watch Editor LOS ANGELES - Questions remain unanswered after a coroner investigation could not reveal how a missing Arcadia woman died. The cause and manner of death for Wenna Chen, 54, was listed as undetermined. Her coroner case has been closed, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Detectives believed at the time that Chen’s death was possibly a suicide. Chen was last seen November 21 around 8:30 a.m. and failed to show for work the following day. Her family reported her missing November 22, Arcadia Police said. Chen’s silver 2007 Mercedes C280 was found parked at the Arcadia Gold Line Station, 73 E. Santa Clara St., November 25, according to Arcadia Police Sgt. Brett Bourgeous in a previous interview.
The car was towed as evidence and taken to an Azusa tow yard in the 1000 block of West Kirkwall Road where her body was discovered inside the car, according to Lt. Tom Cullen of the Arcadia Police Department in a previous interview. A call to the detective handling the case at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau was not returned. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A construction worker who previously was hired at an Arcadia woman’s home is accused of capital murder in her death, prosecutors said. Heber Enoc Diaz, 27, allegedly used a hammer, a jab, a saw and box cutter in the murder of Chyong Jen Tsai at her Arcadia residence April 9, 2019. He was no longer working on Tsai’s home when he burglarized her garage. Tsai stumbled upon Diaz who then allegedly beat her to death, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Tsai, 76, was found dead in the rear yard of her home in the 300 block of East Forest Avenue by construction workers hired to renovate the home, investigators said. Diaz is also accused of burglarizing Tsai’s home March 19 while working there, according to Deputy District Attorney Miriam Avalos. Diaz was additionally charged with two felony counts of second-degree burglary and one felony count each of first-degree residential burglary, second-degree robbery and elder abuse. The charges include allegations of causing great bodily injury to a victim over age 70 and using deadly and dangerous weapons, the DA said. Tsai’s white 2005 Lexus RX 300 was missing from the home. It was later found abandoned in the 900 block of Colorado Boulevard in Los Angeles April 28. He was arrested a day later, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.
Diaz was was scheduled for arraignment June 26. Two other suspects were additionally charged: 33-year-old Luis Alonso Cruz Gaitan of Altadena, who faces one felony count each of being an accessory after the fact and receiving stolen property exceeding $950 in value. Also charged was 26-year-old Isis Ondina Villalobos of Pasadena, who faces one felony count of accessory after the fact, the DA said. If convicted as charged, Diaz faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole or death. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date, the DA’s office said. Gaitan and Villalobos each face up to three years in county jail if convicted as charged. Bail was denied for Diaz. Bail for both Gaitan and Villalobos was set at $1 million. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Gaitan and Villalobos June 28. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Pasadena man accused of murdering an Arcadia woman was arrested April 19 as he was leaving his home Friday morning. Heber Enoc Diaz, 27, was sought in the murder of 76-year-old Chyong Tsai, whose body was found in her Arcadia backyard in the 300 block of East Forest Drive April 9. Diaz was arrested at 10:30 a.m. and booked on suspicion of murder, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Tsai’s stolen white Lexus RX 300 was found abandoned in the 900 block of Colorado Boulevard in Los Angeles the night of April 18, the Sheriff’s Department said.
A motive for the killing has not been revealed. Tsai died from the combined effects of multiple sharp force injuries, multiple blunt trauma and asphyxia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Diaz is being held without bail. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Tuesday, April 23. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor ARCADIA - The county coroner released details on the cause of death for a 76-year-old woman found dead in the rear yard of her Arcadia home. Chyong Tsai died from the combined effects of multiple sharp force injuries, multiple blunt trauma and asphyxia, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Tsai was found unresponsive in the rear yard of her home in the 300 block of East Forest Avenue just before 7 a.m. April 9.
The woman’s white 2005 Lexus RX 300 is missing from the location, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau. The Lexus sports license plate number 5LOG473. No suspect description or motive is known at this time. Anyone with information on the stolen vehicle’s whereabouts or on the death is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A judge sentenced an Azusa man for the 2016 attempted murder of his then girlfriend after he convinced her to meet him to talk about their relationship. Jason Scott Gustin, 21, will spend 22 years to life in state prison for the slashing the girl three years ago. Gustin was convicted by a jury October 9, 2018 and found guilty of attempted murder and mayhem. Gustin was also found guilty of personally inflicting great bodily injury under circumstances of domestic abuse. He also used a knife during the attack, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The attack occurred August 22, 2016, five days after the breakup, near Arcadia as Gustin convinced his former girlfriend, who was 16 at the time, to meet to talk about the end of their relationship.
As Gustin and the girl sat in his car, he slashed the girl’s throat and attempted to choke her. As she attempted an escape, Gustin slashed the back of her neck, slashed an arm and produced a deep cut the entire length of her right thigh. The girl escaped and ran one-quarter mile to a nearby convalescent home where she took refuge. Gustin chased the girl and attempted to enter the building, but was locked out by a nurse, according to witness testimony. Gustin was arrested after fleeing to his mother’s workplace. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A stabbing suspect found guilty on four felony counts will be spending 10 years plus life in prison in an attack against his girlfriend. Matthew Fay Echauri, 25, was sentenced Tuesday to time in state prison. The above sentence includes the possibility of parole, according to Venusse Navid of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Villalobos also imposed a 10-year protective order against Echauri, Navid said.
Echauri was found guilty this February on four felony counts: one count each of attempted murder and mayhem and two counts of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime with force and violence. The jury also found true that Echauri used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife, during the crime and that he inflicted great bodily injury, Navid said. Echauri stabbed his then 18-year-old girlfriend multiple times after an argument March 2, 2017 in her Temple City home. Two days into being taken into custody, Echauri called the girlfriend and threatened to harm her if she spoke to police. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A missing Baldwin Park man who fled a family member in Arcadia was seen in Alhambra recently.
Matthew Munoz, 22, was spotted in December 17. His photo was taken by a resident and was confirmed to be Munoz, according to his family. He may still be in the greater San Gabriel Valley area, Acadia Police said in a written statement. Munoz was last seen at Westfield Santa Anita Mall, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., Tuesday, December 11 in the late afternoon. Munoz suffers from a mental condition that causes him to revert to a “child-like” state, according to the Arcadia Police Department. Munoz is known to frequent County Park, LA Fitness, and Santa Anita Mall. Munoz’s condition is short-lived and he reverts back to normal, Arcadia Police said. Munoz is a non-dependent adult. He carries no cell phone or cash with him. Munoz is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds, has black hair, a mustache and beard and brown eyes. Anyone with information on Munoz's whereabouts is urged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A 20-year-old man is facing 29 years to life in state prison after being found guilty of attempted murder and mayhem in a 2016 attack on his then 17-year-old girlfriend.
Jason Scott Gustin was found guilty of the above charges and was also found guilty of personally inflicting great bodily injury under circumstances of domestic abuse. He also used a knife during the attack, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The attack occurred August 22, 2016 near Arcadia as Gustin and his former girlfriend met to end their relationship, according to Deputy District Attorney Prescilliano Duran, who prosecuted the case. As Gustin and the girl sat in his car, he slashed the girl’s throat and attempted to choke her. As she attempted an escape, Gustin slashed the back of her neck, slashed an arm and produced a deep cut the entire length of her right thigh, Duran said. The girl escaped and ran one-quarter mile to a nearby convalescent home where she took refuge. Gustin chased the girl and attempted to enter the building, but was locked out by a nurse, according to witness testimony. Gustin was arrested after fleeing to his mother’s workplace. Gustin is scheduled to be sentenced December 4 in Department G of Alhambra Superior Court. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A coroner official has identified the man found dead in living quarters on the Santa Anita Park property.
Arcadia resident Juan Rangel, 60, was identified by Lt. Larry Dietz of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The cause of Rangel’s death has been deferred, pending additional investigation. Police were called to the living quarters area of the Race Track, 285 Huntington Dr., around 9 p.m. to a medical call June 27, according to Lt. Roy Nakamura of the Arcadia Police Department. Rangel’s death may be accidental, Nakamura said. A caller reported to Arcadia Police that the man was unconscious and not breathing. He also suffered from a laceration to the body, according to Arcadia Police radio traffic. It is not clear if the laceration is related to Rangel’s death. |
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