Crime
Monday, August 13, 2018
Coroner IDs Eureka Teen Killed in Fatal Cemetery Stabbing
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Mon, Aug 13, 2018 at 4:42 PM
The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office today identified the teenage boy fatally stabbed in Ocean View Cemetery on Aug. 9 as 16-year-old Brandon Brocious of Eureka.
The Eureka Police Department has arrested two suspects in connection with Brocious’ death, Lorna Jean Leen, 38, and an unidentified juvenile male. Both were taken into custody without incident the next morning after being found at two separate locations near the Bayshore Mall.
According to an EPD release on Aug. 10, Leen and the juvenile male were identified as suspects during the initial investigation after police were called to the cemetery around 9 p.m. on reports of a stabbing and found Brocious dead.
Read previous Journal coverage here.
The Eureka Police Department has arrested two suspects in connection with Brocious’ death, Lorna Jean Leen, 38, and an unidentified juvenile male. Both were taken into custody without incident the next morning after being found at two separate locations near the Bayshore Mall.
According to an EPD release on Aug. 10, Leen and the juvenile male were identified as suspects during the initial investigation after police were called to the cemetery around 9 p.m. on reports of a stabbing and found Brocious dead.
Read previous Journal coverage here.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Woman, Juvenile Arrested in Fatal Eureka Stabbing
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Fri, Aug 10, 2018 at 10:22 AM
Two people were arrested this morning in connection with the death of a young man who was fatally stabbed in Ocean View Cemetery last night, the Eureka Police Department reports.
Lorna Jean Leen, 38, and an unidentified juvenile male were taken custody without incident after being located at two separate locations around the 1300 block of Bayshore Way. Police found Leen at a campsite at about 7 a.m. and the juvenile in a nearby car.
According to an EPD release, officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the cemetery about 9 p.m. and found a male juvenile dead. Leen and the other male juvenile were identified as suspects during the ensuing investigation and homicide warrants were issued for their arrests.
Both were taken into custody on the warrants with bail amounts of $1 million, according to the release.
Lorna Jean Leen, 38, and an unidentified juvenile male were taken custody without incident after being located at two separate locations around the 1300 block of Bayshore Way. Police found Leen at a campsite at about 7 a.m. and the juvenile in a nearby car.
According to an EPD release, officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the cemetery about 9 p.m. and found a male juvenile dead. Leen and the other male juvenile were identified as suspects during the ensuing investigation and homicide warrants were issued for their arrests.
Both were taken into custody on the warrants with bail amounts of $1 million, according to the release.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
UPDATE: EPD: Uninjured Baby Found in Room with Couple Dead in Murder-Suicide
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Thu, Aug 9, 2018 at 10:39 AM
The Eureka Police Department today identified the couple found dead in a D Street home Aug. 3 in a murder-suicide, releasing for the first time that a 7-month-old baby was found on a bed in the same room.
Officers responding to a welfare call found the scene around 8 p.m. after forcing entry in the home after trying for several minutes to contact the occupants, stating in an earlier release that the decision was based “on the details of the call, the lack of contact, and observations made at the scene, officers believed exigent circumstances existed.”
According to the release, Astraia Marie Muir, 39, died of “multiple incised wounds” and had to be identified using her fingerprints due to the extensive injuries to her face. The man, identified as Matthew Orion Julius Muir, 42, was found hanging in a nearby closet with “superficial lacerations to his wrists.” The cause of death was asphyxia.
The child was taken to St. Joseph Hospital for evaluation but appeared to be uninjured, and was later released to Child Welfare Service staff, the EPD states.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Astraia Muir’s two children. Many who posted on the site describe her as a passionate nurse and dedicated mother with what one person called an “infectious smile” The site can be found here.
The Times-Standard reports she had recently filed for divorce from the man who police say killed her.
Officers responding to a welfare call found the scene around 8 p.m. after forcing entry in the home after trying for several minutes to contact the occupants, stating in an earlier release that the decision was based “on the details of the call, the lack of contact, and observations made at the scene, officers believed exigent circumstances existed.”
According to the release, Astraia Marie Muir, 39, died of “multiple incised wounds” and had to be identified using her fingerprints due to the extensive injuries to her face. The man, identified as Matthew Orion Julius Muir, 42, was found hanging in a nearby closet with “superficial lacerations to his wrists.” The cause of death was asphyxia.
The child was taken to St. Joseph Hospital for evaluation but appeared to be uninjured, and was later released to Child Welfare Service staff, the EPD states.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Astraia Muir’s two children. Many who posted on the site describe her as a passionate nurse and dedicated mother with what one person called an “infectious smile” The site can be found here.
The Times-Standard reports she had recently filed for divorce from the man who police say killed her.
Monday, August 6, 2018
EPD: D Street Deaths Appear to be a Murder-Suicide
Posted By Kimberly Wear on Mon, Aug 6, 2018 at 4:20 PM
The deaths of two people found in a D Street home on Friday night appear to be a murder-suicide, according to the Eureka Police Department.
Officers responding to a welfare check call around 8 p.m. forced their way into the residence on the 3200 block where they found a man and woman dead. Both had “lacerations,” according to an EPD release, and the man’s appeared to be “self-inflicted.”
The release states that the coroner’s office has not released “positive identifications or causes of death of the two decedents.” Autopsies are scheduled for later this week.
Officers responding to a welfare check call around 8 p.m. forced their way into the residence on the 3200 block where they found a man and woman dead. Both had “lacerations,” according to an EPD release, and the man’s appeared to be “self-inflicted.”
The release states that the coroner’s office has not released “positive identifications or causes of death of the two decedents.” Autopsies are scheduled for later this week.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
EPD Investigating Possible Double Homicide
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Sat, Aug 4, 2018 at 9:53 AM
The Eureka Police Department has launched a homicide investigation after finding two dead in a residence in the 3200 block of D Street.
Officers responded to the residence shortly after 8 p.m. yesterday for a welfare check call. After getting no answer, the officers forced entry into the residence, where they found the two dead bodies.
Police aren't releasing the names, ages, genders or causes of death of the deceased at this point, but advise that no suspects are believed to be at large.
See the full EPD press release copied below:
Officers responded to the residence shortly after 8 p.m. yesterday for a welfare check call. After getting no answer, the officers forced entry into the residence, where they found the two dead bodies.
Police aren't releasing the names, ages, genders or causes of death of the deceased at this point, but advise that no suspects are believed to be at large.
See the full EPD press release copied below:
Friday, July 20, 2018
Trinidad Woman Pleads No Contest in Toddler Death Case
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Fri, Jul 20, 2018 at 4:10 PM
A Trinidad woman will be sentenced to 10 years in state prison after pleading no contest to allegations that she caused the death of her 18-month-old son last month, according to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.
Alexandrea Raven Scott, 23, was arrested June 20 in Willits after bringing her 18-month-old son, Chergery Teywoh Lew Mays, to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. After an investigation, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office alleged Scott left her toddler son unattended in his car seat with the car windows rolled up in front of a friend’s residence for 10 hours while she socialized inside.
Alexandrea Raven Scott, 23, was arrested June 20 in Willits after bringing her 18-month-old son, Chergery Teywoh Lew Mays, to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. After an investigation, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office alleged Scott left her toddler son unattended in his car seat with the car windows rolled up in front of a friend’s residence for 10 hours while she socialized inside.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Huffman Asks FBI to Assist on Lawson Investigation; the Bureau Has Not Responded
Posted By Thadeus Greenson on Tue, Jul 10, 2018 at 1:48 PM
North Coast Congressman Jared Huffman is asking the FBI to step in and assist with investigating the still unsolved slaying of a Humboldt State University sophomore.
“The tragic death of 19-year-old David Josiah Lawson on April 15, 2017, has been devastating to this rural community in my congressional district,” read the letter Huffman sent FBI Director Christopher Wray last month. “With a small police department, Arcata needs experienced homicide investigators to help solve this case. … The case has become particularly divisive in the community, and tensions are likely to persist or grow the longer the case goes unsolved.”
According to Huffman’s office, the FBI has yet to reply to the request.
Arcata police arrested a McKinleyville man, Kyle Zoellner, at the scene of the off-campus party where Lawson was fatally stabbed but saw Zoellner released after a judge found insufficient evidence to hold him to stand trial on a murder charge. In April, Lawson’s mother, Charmaine Lawson, file a claim for damages against the city, alleging police botched the investigation into her son’s killing. Zoellner, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging police falsified reports and denied him medical attention in the case.
“The tragic death of 19-year-old David Josiah Lawson on April 15, 2017, has been devastating to this rural community in my congressional district,” read the letter Huffman sent FBI Director Christopher Wray last month. “With a small police department, Arcata needs experienced homicide investigators to help solve this case. … The case has become particularly divisive in the community, and tensions are likely to persist or grow the longer the case goes unsolved.”
According to Huffman’s office, the FBI has yet to reply to the request.
Arcata police arrested a McKinleyville man, Kyle Zoellner, at the scene of the off-campus party where Lawson was fatally stabbed but saw Zoellner released after a judge found insufficient evidence to hold him to stand trial on a murder charge. In April, Lawson’s mother, Charmaine Lawson, file a claim for damages against the city, alleging police botched the investigation into her son’s killing. Zoellner, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging police falsified reports and denied him medical attention in the case.
Monday, July 2, 2018
2nd UPDATE: Southbound 101 Reopened Near Willits, Homicide Suspect in Custody
Posted By Linda Stansberry on Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 6:28 PM
2nd UPDATE:
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has identified the victims in Monday's shooting on U.S. Highway 101 and announced a suspect is in custody.
According to the sheriff's office press release, police arrested 23-year-old Ubaldo Ramirez at about 1:30 a.m. in Covelo on suspicion of fatally shooting his father, 51-year-old Calixto Ramirez, and critically wounding his brother, 30-year-old Miguel Ramirez in the shooting on U.S. Highway 101 near Willits on Monday afternoon.
See the full press release copied below our original post.
UPDATE:
U.S. Highway 101 reopened around midnight after being closed Monday afternoon due to an active homicide investigation.
According to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to an area north of Ukiah after receiving a report of a suspicious situation. Officers arrived to find a 2001 maroon Chevrolet Silverado pickup stopped in the southbound lanes and that both its occupants had been shot. One was declared dead at the scene and the other had "life threatening injuries" and was transported to an out of county hospital for treatment, according to the release.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office asks that anyone with information about the incident or who may have seen the Silverado prior call its tip line at 234-2100.
PREVIOUSLY:
Caltrans is reporting the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 are closed about 7 miles south of the State Route 20 junction in Mendocino due to "an active crime scene."
Traffic is currently being diverted at Ridgewood Ranch road near Willits onto Old Highway 101. The CHP incident page indicates signage to warn southbound drivers will be put up in Redway and an updated post at 6 p.m. indicates the highway will be closed "for a while."
Few details on the incident were available but the California Highway Patrol's incident page lists a fatality at 4:32 p.m., with an alert issued for a green Ford pickup truck with an older white male who could be a witness or a suspect.
Traffic is reported to be at a standstill on southbound lanes.
Tweet from Caltrans:
From the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office:
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has identified the victims in Monday's shooting on U.S. Highway 101 and announced a suspect is in custody.
According to the sheriff's office press release, police arrested 23-year-old Ubaldo Ramirez at about 1:30 a.m. in Covelo on suspicion of fatally shooting his father, 51-year-old Calixto Ramirez, and critically wounding his brother, 30-year-old Miguel Ramirez in the shooting on U.S. Highway 101 near Willits on Monday afternoon.
See the full press release copied below our original post.
UPDATE:
U.S. Highway 101 reopened around midnight after being closed Monday afternoon due to an active homicide investigation.
According to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to an area north of Ukiah after receiving a report of a suspicious situation. Officers arrived to find a 2001 maroon Chevrolet Silverado pickup stopped in the southbound lanes and that both its occupants had been shot. One was declared dead at the scene and the other had "life threatening injuries" and was transported to an out of county hospital for treatment, according to the release.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office asks that anyone with information about the incident or who may have seen the Silverado prior call its tip line at 234-2100.
PREVIOUSLY:
Caltrans is reporting the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 are closed about 7 miles south of the State Route 20 junction in Mendocino due to "an active crime scene."
Traffic is currently being diverted at Ridgewood Ranch road near Willits onto Old Highway 101. The CHP incident page indicates signage to warn southbound drivers will be put up in Redway and an updated post at 6 p.m. indicates the highway will be closed "for a while."
Few details on the incident were available but the California Highway Patrol's incident page lists a fatality at 4:32 p.m., with an alert issued for a green Ford pickup truck with an older white male who could be a witness or a suspect.
Traffic is reported to be at a standstill on southbound lanes.
Tweet from Caltrans:
The SB lanes of U.S. 101 are closed about 2.5 miles north of Uva Drive in Redwood Valley due to an active crime scene. Caltrans crews are responding to set up traffic control to allow PASSENGER VEHICLES to get around the closure. Will reopen to all traffic when we can.
From the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office:
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Detectives continued to investigate the shooting incident overnight and into 07-03-2018.
During this time, Sheriff’s Detectives identified Calixto Ramirez (51 years-old from Covelo, California) as the deceased adult male at the shooting scene.
The second adult male has been identified as being Miguel Ramirez (30 years-old from Covelo, California). Miguel Ramirez, who was transported to an out of county hospital by air ambulance remains in critical condition.
Calixto Ramirez and Miguel Ramirez have been identified as father and son.
During investigations, which included assistance from the public, the shooting suspect was identified by Sheriff’s Detectives as being Ubaldo Ramirez (23 year-old male from Covelo, California).
Ubaldo Ramirez is the son of Calixto Ramirez (deceased) and the younger brother of Miguel Ramirez (critical condition).
Thanks to assistance from the public, Ubaldo Ramirez was located on 07-03-2018 at approximately 1:30 AM in a parking lot in the 77800 block of Highway 162 in Covelo, California.
Ubaldo Ramirez was taken into custody without incident for the homicide of his father (Calixto Ramirez), and the attempted homicide of his brother (Miguel Ramirez).
Ubaldo Ramirez was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held without bail.
Specific details regarding the shooting are not being released at this time due to pending follow-up investigations by Sheriff’s Detectives.
Any persons with information about this incident, including anyone who might have seen Ubaldo Ramirez between the scene (MPM 35 on North Highway 101 in Willits, California) on 07-02-2018 and Covelo on 07-03-2018 are encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling 707-234-2100.
Planning Commissioner Arrested on Suspicion of Public Intoxication
Posted By Linda Stansberry on Mon, Jul 2, 2018 at 1:49 PM
Humboldt State University Police Chief Donn Peterson confirmed that one of his officers arrested Humboldt County Planning Commissioner Noah Levy in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 1. Peterson said Levy was observed by an officer on the 1000 block of G Street (close to the Arcata Plaza) and arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public, then booked into the Humboldt County jail at around 1:30 a.m.
Levy, who has served on the planning commission since 2014 and who was most recently reappointed by Supervisor Mike Wilson in January, was previously arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in July of 2014.
Peterson said the officer was out on patrol when he or she spotted Levy, but declined to discuss the circumstances of the arrest, saying that the case is now with the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office. Levy's term on the planning commission is up in 2021.
Levy, who has served on the planning commission since 2014 and who was most recently reappointed by Supervisor Mike Wilson in January, was previously arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in July of 2014.
Peterson said the officer was out on patrol when he or she spotted Levy, but declined to discuss the circumstances of the arrest, saying that the case is now with the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office. Levy's term on the planning commission is up in 2021.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Eureka Man Indicted for Child Pornography in Oregon
Posted By Linda Stansberry on Mon, Jun 25, 2018 at 3:35 PM
The Multnomah County Circuit Court has indicted a Eureka man on six counts related to child pornography after he allegedly posed as a classmate of a minor in Portland, Oregon, and obtained nude and explicit photos of her.
Jeramey Todd Walkley, 40, was apprehended by the Portland Police Bureau’s Sex Crimes Unit in Eureka, with the help of local law enforcement, and appeared before a judge in Portland today.
Jeramey Todd Walkley, 40, was apprehended by the Portland Police Bureau’s Sex Crimes Unit in Eureka, with the help of local law enforcement, and appeared before a judge in Portland today.
