Police execute search warrants in murder probe

The Yuma Police Department executed search warrants Tuesday morning at two locations connected to Luis Rios, one of the victims of a six-victim homicide that occurred more than two weeks ago.

A warrant was executed at R.C. Liquor, 101 E. 24th St., where Rios was a partner in the business.

The other warrant was executed at 4759 W. 19th Place. Police spokesman Clint Norred declined to release the name of the homeowner, but according to the phone book, Luis Rios lived there.

Norred would say only that investigators were looking for evidence related to the June 24 slayings. "That's as specific as we're going to get," he said.

No arrests were made as as result of the warrants. Norred said they were executed almost simultaneously.

Rios died June 24 as a result of multiple gun shot wounds. He was found in the back yard of the residence at 2037 E. La Mesa St.

Rios's girlfriend, Adrienne Heredia, and her four children - Andreas Crawford, 13; Enrique Bedoya, 12; Inez Newman, 9; and Danny Heredia III, 6 - were found dead inside the home.

At R.C. Liquor, crime scene tape was wrapped completely around the business while police were working Tuesday morning. Norred said detectives began their work at 6:45 a.m. and the tape was still up at 10:45 a.m.

Five unmarked police vehicles were parked outside the building. A white sport utility vehicle was also nearby.

Occasionally, investigators could be seen leaving the building. Some were wearing light blue gloves and could be seen carrying brown evidence bags.

Norred did not know what occurred when police arrived to execute the warrant, but he said the standard procedure is for authorities to announce their presence and enter.

Those outside the business could not see what was going on inside because the windows of the business are filled nearly floor to ceiling with advertisements.

An employee who answered the phone Tuesday afternoon at R.C. Liquor said that no one at the business wanted to comment.

At 10:30 a.m., no sign of investigators remained at the residence.

A call to the home was answered by Rebecca Rios, Luis Rios's wife. "I don't want to talk today," she said.

Previously, Rebecca Rios had told The Sun that she and Luis have been married for 12 years and had one child together. Although Luis had begun seeing Heredia, Rebecca was still hoping for a reconciliation, according to an earlier interview.

Records in Yuma County Superior Court show that paperwork had recently been filed for a dissolution of the couple's marriage.

Rebecca Rios has said previously that she felt ignored by the police during the investigation.

Luis Rios told Rebecca Rios about his relationship with Heredia around the first of the year, according to Rebecca Rios. She said the two were currently separated.

Norred said there were no other updates about the murders. Police have continued to use a sketch of a man who a witness saw running from the home.

When asked why police had not executed the warrants sooner after the murders, Norred said this is what investigators decided to do. "They obviously timed the search warrant to the best of their abilities and when they felt they needed to," he said.

Norred declined to comment on whether future search warrants would be executed as part of the investigation.

There was plenty of interest Tuesday from the public in what was going on at R.C. Liquor. Drivers on both 24th Street and Madison Avenue could be seen slowing down to try to get a look at what was going on.

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Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.