California

FILLMORE, CA – The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman known for decades only as “Jane Doe” in a 1981 homicide case as Maria Belmontes Blancas. According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and Cold Case Unit, Maria’s body was discovered on January 27, 1981, in a citrus orchard near Piru. She had been shot multiple times, and her death was ruled a homicide. Despite an initial investigation, her identity remained unknown for over four decades. The Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation in 2023 and used advanced DNA analysis to suggest Maria's family may have originated from Michoacán, Mexico. Working with Redgrave Research Forensic Services, investigators traced potential family members, and by summer 2025, they were able to confirm M...

LOS ANGELES, CA – A 29-year-old man, Jonathan Rinderknech, has been arrested on suspicion of starting the Palisades Fire, which later grew into a destructive wildfire, according to federal and local law enforcement officials. The fire caused significant damage in the Palisades area, prompting widespread evacuations and firefighting efforts. Rinderknech is facing federal charges related to the ignition of the blaze. Further details about the investigation have not yet been released.

HESPERIA, CA – Fourteen individuals were arrested and approximately $55,000 in U.S. currency was recovered as part of a train burglary investigation led by the Rural Crimes Task Force. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, the arrests occurred on October 6, 2025, around 6:30 a.m., when investigators from the Rural Crimes Task Force, with assistance from BNSF railroad police and the Hesperia Station Detective Bureau, served a search warrant at a residence in the 14600 block of Willow Street. The warrant was tied to an ongoing investigation into train burglaries within the Victor Valley area. As officers arrived, seven suspects attempted to flee but were quickly apprehended with the help of Sheriff’s Aviation and Hesperia deputies. Another seven individuals w...

CHINO HILLS, CA – A 20-year-old resident of Chino Hills has been arrested in connection with a fatal traffic collision that occurred in the early morning hours of September 28. Deputies from the Chino Hills Sheriff’s Station responded to a crash at 5:48 a.m. at the intersection of Carbon Canyon Road and Chino Hills Parkway. When they arrived, they found a head-on collision involving two vehicles. One of the drivers, a 29-year-old man from Whittier, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other driver, identified as Ethan Ryan Godde, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. Following an investigation by the Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.), authorities arrested Godde on October 6 for gross vehicular manslaughter under PC 191.5(a). He was ...

TERRA BELLA, CA – The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a stabbing that occurred late October 4, 2025, in the 22000 block of Avenue 96 in Terra Bella. Photo Credit: TCSO Deputies were called to the scene around 10:40 p.m. and learned that two men had gotten into an argument at a party when one stabbed the other in the stomach. Deputies rendered first aid to the victim until EMS and Tulare County Fire arrived. The victim was later airlifted to an area hospital. The suspect fled before deputies arrived. Detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office have taken over the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

CULVER CITY, CA – According to the Culver City Police Department, investigators arrested a suspect connected to multiple online threats targeting the TikTok Culver City headquarters. Employees reported receiving a series of online threats across various social media platforms from a suspect identified as 33-year-old Joseph Mayuyo, a resident of Hawthorne. On Oct. 3, representatives received an additional threat naming TikTok’s headquarters. Security evacuated the location out of an abundance of caution. The case was assigned to CCPD investigators. In collaboration with the CCPD Crime Impact Team, Special Enforcement Team, Emergency Response Team, and Crisis Negotiation Team, officers conducted an investigation at Mayuyo’s residence. During the investigation, Mayuyo made additiona...

VICTORVILLE, CA – A 13-year-old boy was seriously injured after being struck by a DUI driver while riding his bicycle, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff‑Coroner Department. The crash occurred around 9:16 p.m. on October 3 at the intersection of Nisqualli Road and Second Avenue. Deputies from the Victorville Police Station, along with Victorville Fire Department and AMR personnel, responded to the scene. Investigators determined that a white Toyota Camry, driven by 36-year-old Rosalie Morales of Victorville, struck the juvenile bicyclist in the eastbound lanes of Nisqualli Road. The victim sustained major injuries and was initially taken to St. Mary Medical Center before being flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Morales remained on scene and was arrested...

PHELAN, CA – According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff‑Coroner Department, deputies from the Victor Valley Station responded to a report of a burglary in the 3900 block of Harding Road after a resident reported an unknown male inside her home. Deputies were dispatched at 5:24 p.m. on October 2. The victim initially saw the man in her front yard and approached him. The suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Javier Soltero of Fontana, grabbed her cell phone and ran into the residence. Once inside, Soltero armed himself with a BB gun found in the home and fired several rounds toward the victim, striking her in the arm. Deputies arrived to find Soltero still inside. After transporting the victim to safety, deputies attempted to have Soltero exit, but he armed himself with a kn...

FAIRFIELD, CA – A 52-year-old man was killed in a solo motorcycle crash in the area of Noonan and Cement Hill Road, according to Fairfield Police. The crash occurred around 6:45 p.m. on October 3. Police and fire personnel responded to multiple calls and found the rider with major injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. His identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The roadway remained closed for several hours and reopened around 11 p.m. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the collision is urged to contact the Fairfield Police Traffic Division at (707) 428-7300.

VENTURA, Calif. – Five juveniles have been charged in connection with an assault involving three victims at a Simi Valley movie theater parking lot on August 1, 2025, according to Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. Three of the juveniles are facing felony charges of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, each with a special allegation of a hate crime. A fourth juvenile has been charged with felony assault, along with misdemeanor counts of criminal threats and battery. The fifth juvenile is charged with misdemeanor criminal threats and battery. Two of the minors are 16 years old and three are 17. Due to their age, their identities are not being released. In addition to the August 1 incident, two of the juveniles are also being charged in connect...