Murder victims shot, strangled

CONTINUING COVERAGE

Two of the people killed in a six-victim homicide in Yuma this summer were shot in the head, but the other four were asphyxiated, according to autopsy reports released by the Forensic Science Center in Tucson.

Adrienne Heredia, 30, was killed June 24 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. Adrienne Heredia's boyfriend, Luis Rios, 35, was also killed that night.

Much of the information in the autopsy reports is blacked out, but some new information is available.

Rios died of a gunshot wound to the head from close range, according to the report.

Rios was found in the back yard of the home with multiple gunshot wounds.

Danny Heredia III, the youngest victim, also died of a gunshot wound to the head. "The head is somewhat disfigured and an obvious wound is seen over the forehead area," the report said.

The reports for the four other victims list their cause of death as probable asphyxiation. The reports do not make clear how the asphyxiation occurred, whether through strangling by hands or by some other means.

The report shows that those victims had the presence of petechiae on the body or on internal organs. Petechiae are small hemorrhages that generally indicate pressure, according to Dr. Victor Alvarez, a Yuma Regional Medical Center pathologist.

The toxicology reports for all six victims were negative for alcohol and drugs of abuse.

The autopsies were conducted June 27 in Tucson by forensic pathologists Dr. Bruce Parks and Dr. Cynthia Porterfield. Yuma Police Detective Jeff Ruby and Clay Pouquette witnessed the autopsies along with Yuma County Attorney Jon Smith and chief criminal deputy Roger Nelson.

Until recently, the autopsy reports had been sealed at the request of the county attorney.

Kenneth Crawford, father of Andreas Crawford and Bedoya, said he remained optimistic that police are building a strong case in the murders. "We're staying optimistic. We're being patient about it," he said.

"Everybody wants it to be over and done with, but the police need to build a case. They want to make the strongest case they can against the perpetrator."

Crawford, who speaks with police on a weekly basis, said he has never seen the actual autopsy reports but has a general knowledge of what they contain. He did not believe that the reports becoming publicly available will affect the case.

"I don't think it will help or hurt the case one way or another," he said.

The YPD said in a release that the investigation is ongoing and the YPD will not discuss the autopsy reports.

Police continue to seek information about a suspect whose sketch they previously released. This person of interest has been described as a male between the ages of 27 and 34, 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 220 pounds, with a stocky build and black hair. He is considered armed and dangerous.

In July, police executed search warrants at R.C. Liquor, 101 E. 24th St., where Rios was a partner in the business, and at 4759 W. 19th Place, where Rios once lived. At the time, Norred would say only that investigators were looking for evidence related to the slayings.

Detectives also processed a vehicle for evidence that was believed to be connected to the murders.

The 2000 blue Dodge Durango sport utility vehicle, registered to Rios, is believed to have been taken from the Heredia residence on the night of the murders.

Investigators recovered the vehicle at 5:30 a.m. June 25 in the 600 block of West 21st Street, according to Norred. Police are seeking any information about the whereabouts or occupants of the vehicle between the afternoon of June 24 and the early morning hours of June 25.

The vehicle had an Arizona license plate and a large R.C. Liquor decal in the rear window, according to police.

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Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at

jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.