NEWMAN – Two suspects wanted in connection to a homicide in Oregon were captured in Stanislaus County by authorities Wednesday.
Authorities with Grants Pass Department of Public Safety responded to a 911 call from the Red Lion Inn after an employee found a man on the floor of a room at the hotel.
Detectives responded and found 42 year old Ryan Antone Dutra deceased from a gunshot wound. Authorities said Dutra was a resident of California and was renting a room at the hotel. No one else was found in the room, and no one in the area had any knowledge of the incident.
Investigators were able to develop leads using surveillance video, cell phone and license plate technology. They identified the suspects as 41 year old Derek Ian Smith and his wife 34 year old Tera Lindsey Smith. Both were reported as residents of California. Detectives believe both suspects had already returned by the time they were identified.
Authorities in Grants Pass coordinated with authorities in California to locate both suspects. They were able to track them down to Stanislaus County, where their vehicle had broken down at a vista point along Interstate 5 in the Newman area.
Officers with the California Highway Patrol and Deputies with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office responded to the rest area and spotted their SUV with an open hood. Early reports indicated they were attempting to jump start their vehicle. Both suspects were taken into custody at about 10:30am without incident.
Both suspects face charges including murder, robbery and unlawful use of a weapon. The Grants Pass Department of Public Safety acknowledged the swift work of investigators and local allied agencies to apprehend them both.
Carlos Rodriguez is an Emmy Award winning photojournalist specializing in public safety and natural disasters. His passion for local news stems from a deep commitment to his community, with a selfless mission to inform the citizens of the valley. As he worked on assignment for 19 days at the devastating Camp Fire in Paradise, California, he spent most of his time helping survivors contact their loved ones to let them know they were ok. Carlos is a veteran of Univision, FOX, and Telemundo TV stations and a native of Modesto, California.
MODESTO – A burning pickup truck with an attached trailer sent a large plume of black smoke into the air Friday evening, stalling traffic on Highway 99.
At about 6:30pm emergency crews were dispatched to the area of Southbound Highway 99 near the Kansas Avenue exit for a report of a vehicle on fire. Arriving firefighters found a pickup truck with a trailer that was engulfed in fire on the right shoulder.
Early reports indicate the driver was able to exit the vehicle. At time of publication traffic was backed up nearly to Salida.
MODESTO – Emergency crews responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle Friday afternoon.
The collision happened shortly after 3:45pm on the Carpenter overcrossing at Highway 99. Arriving police officers located a pedestrian with a significant head injury losing consciousness.
Southbound traffic on the bridge is expected to be closed. Motorists should seek an alternate route.
STOCKTON – A man wanted in connection for the deaths of a mother and her son just days before Christmas has been captured in Mexico, officials reported this week.
Julio Valdez was located and arrested on February 11th in Rosarito, Mexico by members of a US Marshals Task Force along with Mexico Regional Police. He was taken into custody without incident.
On December 23rd, 2024 officers with the Stockton Police Department were called to the 2500 block of Belleview Street for a report of two unresponsive persons. They located two victims who were pronounced deceased at the scene, later identified as Alicia Montejano and her son Reuel Huerta.
Valdez is expected to be extradited back to San Joaquin County. The investigation is ongoing.