New sketch released in six-victim homicide

CONTINUING COVERAGE

An updated sketch of the suspect from a June 24 six-victim homicide was released Thursday by the Yuma Police Department.

"There's a lot more detail," said spokesman Clint Norred. "The other one was good, but this one's better."

The new sketch appears to portray a single person who could be discerned from others. The new sketch shows a bit of facial hair on the chin, which was not included on the first sketch.

The old sketch, which was released soon after the slayings, was in color but was not very lifelike. There were few if any distinguishing features that could be seen in the face.

"I think it's improved. It obviously shows more detail," Norred said.

The killings of Luis Rios, Adrienne Heredia and Heredia's four children remain unsolved after four weeks of investigation.

Rios, 35, was found in the back yard of the residence at 2037 E. La Mesa St. with gunshot wounds. Inside the home, police found the bodies of Heredia, 30, and Andreas Crawford, 13; Enrique Bedoya, 12; Inez Newman, 9; and Danny Heredia III, 6.

The new sketch was created by Kirt Messick, a forensic artist with the Phoenix Police Department. The drawing is being distributed to law enforcement agencies in the area, according to a Yuma Police Department release.

The sketch that had been in use was created by computer software at YPD using the information from a single witness. Norred said the new sketch was also based on information from this witness, who saw a man running from the home that night.

The suspect in the sketch 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.

While the old sketch referred to the man as a suspect, the new flier says that the man depicted is wanted for questioning in reference to a homicide. He is referred to as a suspect at the bottom of the flier.

Norred said that the investigation into the deaths continues. He said more than 200 interviews have now been conducted.

"Tips are still coming in," he said.

Few details about the case have been revealed. Recently, police executed search warrants at RC Liquor, where Rios was a partner, and at a residence where Rios once lived.

Police have withheld information about how the five victims inside the home were killed. At the request of the Yuma County Attorney, the autopsy results were sealed.

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

Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at

jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.