Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The 33-year-old son of a deceased couple found badly burned in a Diamond Bar home has yet to be found days after the destructive house fire took his parents’ lives.
Homicide detectives want to speak with Ryan Venti who was a resident of the home in the 3600 block of Crooked Creek Drive. Ryan Venti is not a suspect in the deadly fire, according to detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. While still trying to determine the fire’s origin, detectives believe the fire was intentionally set. A family dog also perished in the fire. Linda Venti, 66, and husband John Venti, 75, were identified as the dead couple. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Ryan Venti is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The family of a 20-year-old man who was slain in a car on his birthday is pleading for witnesses to come forward in the two-year-old killing.
Saieed Stecoo Ivey was gunned down outside his apartment complex in the 800 block of El Repetto Drive in Monterey Park June 9, 2016. Homicide detectives, as well as Ivey’s family and friends, are asking for public assistance in finding those responsible. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a $10,000 reward, in conjunction with a $10,000 reward from Ivey’s family and friends, for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. An unknown suspect pulled the trigger around 4:30 a.m. that night. Ivey celebrated his birthday just four and a half hours prior to the shooting, detectives said. Ivey was a basketball player at East Los Angeles Community College. A Chicago transplant, Ivey sought a better life away from the violence of his hometown. Ivey’s mother, Chareda Carter, flew from Chicago to make a public plea in helping solve her son’s murder. “He did not deserve this. If anyone can provide any information, please do not hesitate to call,” Carter said. “it’s tough to lose anyone in your life, especially a son this age and who was aspiring to be successful.” Anyone with information on Ivey’s killer or killers is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor PASADENA - The man Pasadena Police said stabbed his mother to death September 24 will be arraigned October 10, prosecutors said.
Alex Edward Evans, 30, is facing one count of murder with the allegation of using a knife as a deadly and dangerous weapon in the slaying of his 67-year-old mother, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Evans allegedly called 9-1-1 around 9:16 p.m. and told the dispatcher he killed his mother inside her home in the 1100 block of north Mentor Avenue, Pasadena Police said. The dispatcher kept Evans on the phone until police arrived. He was ordered out of the home and was detained. Evans’ mother, Katrina Evans, was found dead with multiple stab wounds, Pasadena Police said. Evans faces 26 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said. Evans is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - Two men are facing capital murder charges in a drive-by shooting that left a man dead, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said.
Bernardo Martinez, 21, and Nicholas Rodriguez, 27, were charged September 25 with one count of murder with the special circumstance that it occurred in a drive-by shooting with the intent to kill. The men are eligible for the death penalty, according to Paul Eakins of the DA’s Office. The men were additionally charged with two counts of premeditated attempted murder and one count of shooting from a motor vehicle. Rodriguez also faces a count of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s vehicle while driving recklessly, Eakins said. The charges include gun and gang enhancements for both men. The suspects are accused of firing on a group of people in the 600 block of North Garfield Avenue around 1:40 a.m. September 22. Montebello officers found Rudy Elguezabal, 21, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He later died at a nearby hospital. Two other intended victims were unscathed, Montebello Police said. Witnesses described the vehicle used in the drive-by. It was located occupied by Montebello Police who then pursed the suspects when they refused to stop. The suspects crashed and fled officers on foot before being taken into custody. The alleged murder weapon was recovered. The suspects face the death penalty or life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date, Eakins said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A fifth man accused of being present at the beating and killing of a 20-year-old Glendora father pleaded not guilty September 20.
Andrew Joseph Michael Williams, 19, is charged with one count each of murder, first-degree robbery and kidnapping in the death of Julian Hamori-Andrade, 20, whose beaten body was discovered over the side of Highway 39 above Azusa May 30. Detectives spoke with Williams early on the in the investigation, but was not yet arrested. Detectives built a case against Williams alleging a stronger involvement in Hamori-Andrade’s robbery, kidnapping and killing. “He was involved much more than he led investigators to believe,” according to Lt. Derrick Alfred of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. “He was present at the assault and disposal of the body,” Alfred said. Williams apparently went into hiding after being interviewed, but was found and taken into custody, Alfred said. Williams was arrested at 8:40 a.m. July 18. He was originally held in lieu of $2 million bail in connection to the murder and was held in the San Dimas Sheriff’s jail while he awaited his appearance in court, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Hercules Dimitrios Balaskas, a 19-year-old Glendora man, Francisco Amigon, a 19-year-old La Verne man, Jacob Hunter Elmendorf, 19, also from La Verne, and Matthew Martin Capiendo Luzon, 21 pleaded not guilty to the same charges September 17. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The brother-in-law of a man found fatally stabbed outside a bowling alley in El Monte was officially charged in the victim’s slaying.
Loi Vi Tran, 40, was charged with one count of murder with the special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. He is accused of stabbing his brother-in-law, 45-year-old Stephen Tran of El Monte, multiple times with a kitchen knife, according to Paul Eakins of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The above charge makes Tran eligible for the death penalty, Eakins said. Tran’s arraignment was scheduled for Tuesday, but it was continued to October 17. Tran, a Calgary man, was visiting family in El Monte. The family went bowling September 15 and just before midnight, the stabbing occurred. “After the group played for several hours that night, the defendant paid for everyone’s games and went outside to wait for them,” Eakins said. “At that point, shortly after midnight, Tran is accused of stabbing his brother-in-law … several times in the chest after an exchange of words.” Stephen Tran was taken to an area hospital where he later died. Loi Tran was detained at the scene and the weapon was recovered. If capital punishment is not sought, Loi Tran could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The four men accused of kidnapping, robbing, beating a man and dumping his body over the side of a mountain pleaded not guilty September 17.
Hercules Dimitrios Balaskas, a 19-year-old Glendora man, Francisco Amigon, a 19-year-old La Verne man, Jacob Hunter Elmendorf, 19, also from La Verne, and Matthew Martin Capiendo Luzon, 21 pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, first-degree residential robbery and kidnapping in the May 29 killing of Glendora man Julian Hamori-Andrade, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The four men were charged May 31. The suspects also face three special circumstances of lying in wait and murder during the kidnapping and robbery Hamori-Andrade, whose body was found dumped 30 feet over the side of Highway 39 Wednesday, May 30. A Fifth suspect previously not disclosed will face arraignment today, September 18, the District Attorney’s Office said. Andrew Joseph Michael Williams, 19, was arrested at 8:40 a.m. July 18. He was originally held in lieu of $2 million bail in connection to the murder. His role in the killing for now remains undisclosed. Prosecutors accuse Balaskas of beating Hamori-Andrade with the metal chair. Luzon further beat Hamori-Andradewith a rock and broke glass pipe once he was taken to the mountainside. The brutal killing beganMay 29 when deputies respondedto a home in the 6100 block of Goodway Drive in the unincorporated area near Azusa for a disturbance callanddiscovered a large blood trail leading from the unoccupied home to the street, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Hamori-Andrade’s body was discovered in the San Gabriel Mountains two days later. Luzon remained a fugitive while his three accomplices were taken into custody. He was was recognized as he exited the AMC Montebello 10 Theater in Montebello around 6:30 p.m. June 30, according to Deputy Joana Warren of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. A motive for the killing is unknown. The four original defendants are scheduled to return to court October 29. If convicted as charged, all four suspects face the death penalty or life in state prison without parole. The decision to seek the death penalty will be made at a later court appearance. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Homicide detectives are awaiting autopsy results on a man found dead in the San Gabriel Mountains Monday.
Detectives will proceed based on the cause of death, according to Lt. Joe Mendoza of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. The body of a man was found in the mountains near the Glendora Ridge Motorway west of Glendora Mountain Road Monday night. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies were called around 8 p.m. by a hiker who found the body. San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team personnel drove and hiked into the location, finally finding the body about one hour later. The body may have been on the mountainside for several days. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s homicide detectives and the sister of a slain Hacienda Heights man asked for the public’s help in solving a 13-year-old murder case Tuesday. Edward Berber, 27, was found shot to death December 6, 2005 in his Hacienda Heights home in the 1800 block of Charlemont Avenue. Berber’s mother made the gruesome discovery after she went to check on him after she had not heard from him in a few days. Berber, a father of two, was shot dead in his bed. Investigators working the case back then exhausted all leads in finding a suspect. Those detectives have since retired, according to Cpt. Chris Bergner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Detectives presented a sketch of what the suspect would have looked like 13 years ago, Bergner said. There is no known connection between the suspect and Bergner, said Sgt. Robert Martindale of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, adding that the sketch was created with witness statements from 2005-06 and from fresh interviews of the same witnesses. There was nothing about Berber’s history found that would incite such violence against him, Martindale said. Berber was a family man who loved his children, according to sister Alejandra Johnson. “He worked hard his whole life to be accomplished. A professional with a Master’s degree from Notre Dame. He was about to take his CPA test,” Johnson said. “He had dreams and goals. Not just for him, but for his family … his children, his parents.”
There were no signs of forced entry into Berber’s home and he appeared to be alone at the time of the murder, Martindale said. Investigators are confident that new advances in forensic technology in the last 13 years can lead to a suspect, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell. “We believe we are very, very close to a breakthrough in this case,” McDonnell said. Berber and his then wife, Tonya, were estranged in 2005 and were in the process of divorce. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward for information leading to a suspect. Anyone with information on the murder is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The coroner will determine if the man who stabbed to death a Cal Poly Pomona public safety specialist last month had anything in his system when the killing occurred.
A motive is still unknown after 27-year-old Rodney Lee Hunter reportedly committed the brutal stabbing of Mark Manlapaz, a 17-year-veteran of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona June 29, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. The autopsy on Hunter was performed July 9. Hunter was identified by Homicide detectives as a Cal Poly Pomona custodian. How long Hunter worked for the campus is not immediately known. Manlapaz, 37, served the campus as a public safer specialist. He was parked at university property known as Campus South, 3530 Pomona Blvd., when he was approached by Hunter, who stabbed him to death. Manlapaz died in his university-issued truck. Witnesses helped authorities locate Hunter about a half mile from the scene of the stabbing, near the John T. Lyle Center For Regenerative Studies. One of the witnesses who apparently knew Hunter told detectives that he appeared “out of it,” according to Sheriff's Homicide Lt. John Corina. Hunter fought with the witness when approached. A Pomona Police officer and a Cal Poly Police officer both opened fire on Hunter, but the interaction that led to the officer-involved shooting remains undisclosed. The knife thought to be used in the stabbing was recovered near the victim’s truck. |
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