Fathers of slaying victims seek help

The fathers of four children murdered June 24 in Yuma appealed to the public on Thursday for tips to help police solve the crime.

Danny Heredia Jr., William Newman and Kenneth Crawford made their appeal at a news conference held by Yuma police. "What we're asking for is help in finding these people who did this to our family," Heredia Jr. said. "Any little piece of information can help. It can't hurt. We want to find who did this and make them pay."

Yuma police said they have no new information to release in connection with their investigation into the murders, in which a total of six people were killed.

Adrienne Heredia, 30, was killed in her home at 2037 E. La Mesa St. along with her four children - Andreas Crawford, 13, Enrique Bedoya, 12, Inez Newman, 9, and Danny Heredia III, 6. Also found murdered at the home was Adrienne Heredia's boyfriend, Luis Rios, 35.

Police spokesman Clint Norred said investigators are still searching for the "person of interest," who is depicted in the updated sketch that was released in July. Police are waiting for the return of evidence that is being analyzed and have conducted more than 300 interviews.

A large collage of photos of the victims was displayed at the front of the room during the news conference. Afterward, Crawford said he remained confident that police would be able to find those involved. "When that evidence comes back, they'll be able to be more focused, narrow it down and get a better view," he said.

Newman, who did not speak during the conference, said in an interview he thanks the community for the help it had offered so far. He said he was trusting in God to help him and the family members. "Six lives have already been taken, and when they find the people who did this, their lives are going to be over, too," he said. "It's a sad situation."

Police said a reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the murder. The reward has been created in cooperation with the Adrienne Bedoya-Heredia and Her Little Angels Fund.

When asked if there may be more suspects than just the person in the sketch, Norred declined to comment.

On the night of the murders, Rios was found in the back yard of the home with multiple gun shot wounds. The causes of death for the five found inside the home have not been released. Norred said the autopsy results of the victims will remain sealed on the advice of the Yuma County Attorney's Office.

Police are requesting information from anyone who recalls seeing Rios's 2000 blue Dodge Durango in the afternoon or evening hours June 24. The vehicle was believed to have been taken from the Heredia residence on the night of the murders. It was recovered at 5:30 a.m. June 25 in the 600 block of 21st Street.

The vehicle had a vanity license plate that said "#1 Raiders Fan" on the front and a decal in the back window for RC Liquor, 101 E. 24th St., where Rios was a partner.

Norred declined to comment on the type of evidence that was recovered during search warrants that were executed in July at RC Liquor and at 4759 W. 19th Place, where Rios once lived.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call police at 783-4421 or 78-CRIME.

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Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at

jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.