Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa DA served with recall papers on St. Patrick’s Day

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Source: Recall District Attorney Diana Becton

Organizers hope Diana Becton’s luck has run out; have 160 days to gather signatures of 73,000 voters; election may not happen until next March

By Allen D. Payton

With less than two years left in her term and over a year after posting about their effort on social media, organizers announced on Monday, March 17, 2025, Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton was served with recall papers. They cite a “persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity” and “empty promises to victims and their families.”

Source: Recall District Attorney Diana Becton (Redacted by organizers)

In an announcement on their website on Tuesday, organizers wrote, “District Attorney Diana Becton has been served with the Notice of Intent to recall her from office on March 17, 2025. This recall notice was delivered in person, as shown in a video recording, while she was entering the back entrance of the DA’s office. Furthermore, the notice of intention was filed with the Contra Costa County Elections office today. Out of the 121 signatures collected, 103 were validated, exceeding the recall group’s requirement of 100 valid signatures for the initiative to proceed. Diana Becton now has seven days to respond to the Notice of Intention.

The petition declares, ‘We, the victims of crime, their families, local business owners and employees, as well as residents of Contra Costa County, have reached our limit and are initiating the recall of District Attorney Diana Becton. We are increasingly concerned about the persistent cycle of unaddressed criminal activity. We are frustrated by her continuous empty promises to victims and their families that justice will prevail while she permits criminals to roam free. Her lack of transparency regarding crime in this county and her attempts to keep offenders out of jail have left us disheartened. We stand for the residents of Contra Costa County because everyone deserves to live in a safe environment. We advocate for all crime victims who feel ignored, exasperated, and hopeless in their pursuit of justice for themselves or their loved ones. We support the business owners who endure constant thefts and burglaries from repeat offenders while Becton turns a blind eye. District Attorney Diana Becton is compromising the safety of our community and failing to address the needs of victims. We are committed to restoring justice, starting with the urgent recall of District Attorney Diana Becton.’

The organizers of the recall will be arranging a press conference soon. For any questions or inquiries, please reach out via email to recalldianabecton@gmail.com or info@recalldianabecton.org.”

The brief video on the website shows Becton being served with the recall papers as she walked into a building.

Source: Recall District Attorney Diana Becton

In addition, the website reveals a photo and list of the 10 recall organizers as promised to the Herald in an email dated Sept. 6, 2024, as well as the victims they represent. They include:
Top Row
1. Zelma Johnson – Grandmother of Damond Lazenby Jr.
2. Stephen Arellano – Father of Thomas Arellano
3. Gwyn Gabe – Father of Alexis Gabe
4. Kelly Melton – Aunt of Allie Sweitzer
5. Monte’ Corley – Brother of Stacy Dewayne Corley Jr.
6. Emileigh Faulkner – Cousin of Allie Sweitzer
Bottom Row
7. Carol Ann Sherman – Granddaughter of Carmen Vasquez
8. Erica Esperanza Cano – Ex-Wife of Anthony Hernandez
9. Jessica Frances Gabe Zuasola – Cousin of Alexis Gabe
10. Christopher Rodriguez – Stepfather of Allie Sweitzer

According to a December 2024 report by Richmondside, “Contra Costa County’s Registrar of Voters told Richmondside there are about 729,500 registered voters in the county, so the recall team will need to gather, at minimum, about 73,000 signatures,” or 10 percent as required in local jurisdictions with 100,000 or more registered voters.

According to the California Secretary of State’s Procedures for Recalling State and Local Officials, the organizers will have 160 days to accomplish that requirement.

In addition, the procedures require, “If there are more than 500 signatures to verify, the elections department has 60 days to determine if there are enough valid signatures, and the elections department can use random sampling techniques. However, if the elections department determines that a 60-day window “could cause the recall election to be ineligible for consolidation with the next regularly scheduled election,” the process must be finished in 30 days instead of 60.

“The relevant governing body (Board of Supervisors) must call for an election within 14 days after the meeting at which the certificate of sufficiency for the recall petition was presented. If the governing body fails to issue the order within 14 days, the county elections official, within 5 days, shall set the date for holding the election.

“The election shall be held not less than 88 nor more than 125 days after the issuance of the order. However, the election may be conducted within 180 days after the issuance of the order so that the election may be consolidated with a regularly scheduled election.” The latest the recall election could occur is next March.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report claimed Becton was up for re-election in 2026. However, a state law passed in 2022, AB-759 aligns elections for county district attorneys and sheriffs with the presidential election, and all those who were elected that year had their terms extended by two years until 2028.

Due to new state laws passed by the legislature and signed by Newsom in 2022, local recalls no longer include a simultaneous replacement election. Instead, should Becton be recalled, then her position will remain vacant until the Board of Supervisors appoints her replacement or holds another election. If appointed or elected, that person would fill the remainder of Becton’s term until December 2028.

 

DA charges two women with multiple felonies in Pittsburg animal cruelty incident

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Suspects Lagashia Williams (left source: Pittsburg PD) and Graciela Amar (right, source: unknown) at the scene of the incident on Feb. 19, 2025.

Kicked neighbor’s dog; both out of custody; older suspect has previous arrest for assault

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged two women with cruelty to an animal, brandishing an imitation firearm, and making a false report to peace officers.

46-year-old Lagashia Shante Williams and 18-year-old Graciela Amar were arrested and booked into the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities on February 27th, 2025. The Sheriff’s Office released both Williams and Amar after posting bail of $172,500 on March 1st and March 2nd, respectively. Their arrests followed an investigation by Pittsburg Police into an incident that occurred on February 19th.

On that day, Williams and Amar confronted a homeowner in his driveway regarding an incident involving his elderly neighbor. The previous day, the neighbor had accidentally run over the homeowner’s growing plant while backing a vehicle into a driveway.

Security video shows neighbor being confronted in his driveway by Lagashia Williams (left) and Graciela Amar (right). Source: Unknown

During their conversation, which escalated into an argument, Amar walked toward a vehicle, retrieved what turned out to be an imitation firearm, and handed it to Williams. As the argument between the three individuals continued, Williams brandished the imitation weapon, causing the homeowner to back away.

The homeowner picked up one of the two dogs that were with him. As he was walking away, Williams told Amar to kick the other dog, which she did. The force of the kick sent the animal aloft, through the air, landing several feet away on the lawn of the homeowner’s property. The homeowner picked up the wounded animal, who was crying out, and went inside his home.

Security video shows Graciela Amar kicking the dog into the air. Source: Unknown

Williams called 911 and reported to police dispatch that the homeowner had a gun, a claim that proved to be false.
Both women will be arraigned in court on the following charges:
• PC 597(a) Cruelty to Animals (Williams and Amar)
• PC 417.4 (a) Drawing or exhibiting imitation firearm in a threatening manner (Williams and
Amar)
• PC 148.5 False report (Williams)

If convicted, both could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in county jail and fined up to $20,000.

According to localcrimenews.com, the five-feet, two-inch tall, 160-pound Williams is from Concord and was also arrested in 2016 by Oakland Police for assault with a deadly weapon or assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm.

Also, according to localcrimenews.com, Amar is from Oakland.

The People of the State of California v. Williams, Lagashia Shante
The People of the State of California v. Amar, Graciela

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Vallejo man charged by Contra Costa DA for stealing $25,000 of LEGOs

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Photos: Target.com and Waymarking.com

From Walnut Creek, San Ramon Target stores

Has history of arrests dating to 2014

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

A Vallejo man has been charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney with multiple counts of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft for stealing nearly $25,000 worth of merchandise from Target.

32-year-old Michael Ivory Fletcher (born 7/10/92) is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility, awaiting a preliminary hearing on a 12-count felony complaint filed in court on February 20th.

His bail has been set at $467,500.

Fletcher’s offenses go beyond Contra Costa County. He is suspected of thefts in Solano, Alameda, San Joaquin, Sonoma, and Santa Clara Counties.

The thefts at Target stores in Walnut Creek and San Ramon occurred between August 15th, 2024, and February 15th, 2025. Fletcher’s actions followed a similar method of entering a store alone, filling up a shopping cart of LEGO products, and exiting with the stolen merchandise in a matter of minutes. Before fleeing from a store, he would load the stolen items in a vehicle parked in a disabled parking space.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “The effective investigative efforts of the Walnut Creek and San Ramon police departments were crucial in bringing this case forward. We are committed to holding this individual accountable. Moreover, these brazen retail thefts demonstrate the necessity of reporting these crimes to law enforcement. Collaborative efforts are essential to ensuring the safety of our communities and businesses.”

Case No. 01-25-00704 | The People of the State of California v. Fletcher, Michael Ivory

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, 10-inch, 165 lb. Fletcher is Black, and as of March 5, he is being held in the West County Detention Facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at 8:30 AM in Superior Court in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was arrested on Feb. 15, 2025, by Walnut Creek Police for felony committed while released on bail or own recognizance, revocation of probation, conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary, grand theft and organized retail theft. 01-25-00704 – MIFletcher Charging Document

In addition, Fletcher has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by multiple agencies including Oakland, Emeryville, Albany and Vallejo PD’s, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, Solano and San Joaquin counties Sheriff’s Departments and Castro Valley CHP for multiple gun-related and drug-related crimes, grand theft, burglary, organized retail theft, battery on a spouse, ex-spouse or co-habitant, and resisting arrest.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa DA secures convictions in three murder cases

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By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Martinez, CA – Separate juries in Contra Costa County returned guilty verdicts in three murder trials this week.

In The People v. Phuc Hong Vo, jurors convicted Vo of the first-degree murder of his 75-year-old mother-in-law, Que Thi Tran, and the second-degree murder of his wife, 40-year-old Tho Ngoc Ly. The verdict was reached on February 18th.

The victims were murdered by Vo on or about September 5th, 2023, in Contra Costa County.

While the body of Ms. Tran was recovered in the Oakland estuary on September 30th, police have been unable to locate Ms. Ly. Initially, Vo reported to San Pablo Police that his wife and mother-in-law had willingly left their home after he and Ly argued over family finances.

San Pablo Police became suspicious of Vo after receiving information that the disappearance was likely a double homicide. Moreover, actions by Vo like remodeling his home, hiding his wife’s car, lying to the police, and leaving the United States for Vietnam to meet a woman he had been seeing and wanted to marry, added to the circumstantial evidence that Vo was the only suspect in this case.

Vo will be sentenced at a future date by Judge Charles Burch in Martinez. He faces a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for the double murders.

Also on February 18th, a jury convicted Lonnie Ray Decker and Steven Robert Kelly of the murder of Roberto Gonzalez-Lamas and the attempted murder of Richard O’Mary. The shooting occurred on January 23, 2024, in Antioch. (See related article)

Police responded to multiple gunshots on Bryan Avenue, where both victims were shot several times. Gonzalez-Lamas later died at a hospital, while O’Mary sustained severe injuries but survived.

Both defendants will remain in custody without bail. They will be sentenced by Judge Christopher Bowen in Martinez on June 6th, 2025.

On February 19th, in The People v. Lawyer Dushan McBride, a jury found McBride guilty of murdering Rashanda Franklin in 2017.

McBride, then 43, was waiting for Franklin, 30, in the church’s parking lot where she took her children to school. He had been following her and harassing her for weeks after she ended their 2-year relationship. Concerned for her safety, she called 911 as she fled the parking lot with her children. As both vehicles approached 29th Street and Rheem Avenue, McBride blocked Franklin’s car, exited his vehicle, and confronted her. The 911 recording captured Franklin pleading, “I’ve got my kids in the car.” McBride responded, “I ain’t playing with you,” before fatally shooting her.

In addition to the murder conviction, the jury found McBride guilty of shooting into an occupied vehicle, stalking, personally using a firearm to cause death, and inflicting great bodily injury in circumstances involving domestic violence.

Judge Mary Ann O’Malley will sentence McBride in Martinez at a date and time determined by the court.

Two of these homicide trials involved family violence. For anyone experiencing domestic violence or elder abuse, help is available at Contra Costa’s Family Justice Centers www.cocofamilyjustice.org or 24-7 through the crisis line at STAND! for Families free from Violence 1-888-215-5555.

Contra Costa Sheriff, DA assist in solving 1990 East Bay Parks murder

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Weidhofer Cold Case

By East Bay Regional Park District Police Department

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department announced Wednesday, February 19, 2025, that DNA evidence has conclusively identified the murderer in a 35-year-old case that took place in Charles Lee Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, CA.

Evidence collected from Jon Lipari, who died by suicide in Oregon in November 2024, was linked to the victim Maria Weidhofer, a Berkeley resident. She was an avid jogger and park user of Tilden Regional Park.

On Nov. 16, 1990, Weidhofer was found deceased on a trail near Inspiration Point in Tilden Regional Park. Weidhofer was found with rope around her neck and with physical signs of a struggle after she had been reported missing the night before.

An autopsy, performed at the time of the crime, found that Weidhofer’s cause of death was asphyxia by ligature strangulation and found a multitude of minor abrasions and contusions upon her person. A lengthy investigation was conducted in 1990-1991 by the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. A suspect was not identified from this initial investigation.

In 1997, biological evidence found on Weidhofer from the suspect was sent to the Contra Costa Crime Lab for analysis. That evidence was later submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Among the evidence collected, during the initial investigation, was semen from which a DNA profile was generated.

In 2020, the East Bay Regional Park District Police Investigations Unit began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on this case. This collaboration included the use of advanced DNA techniques. Through this investigation, Lipari was determined to be a potential suspect and became the primary suspect in 2024.

Once Lipari was identified as a potential suspect, hundreds of hours of further investigation were conducted in collaboration with the FBI, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation also determined that Lipari was living in Gold Beach, OR.

In early November 2024, Lipari was found deceased in his residence by local law enforcement from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DNA from the scene was retrieved by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and a direct comparison was done by the Contra Costa County Crime Lab. The comparison determined the DNA profiles generated from the evidence collected at the original scene and the DNA from Lipari were a match.

There is no indication from the investigation, Weidhofer’s family, or Lipari’s family, that there was any previous contact between the victim and suspect.

“We hope that today’s development brings some measure of closure to the family, who have shown tremendous strength throughout this difficult time” said Roberto Filice, Chief of the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. “This breakthrough comes after years of relentless investigation, and I want to personally thank our dedicated staff for their perseverance and firm commitment to seeking justice. Their determination to never give up ultimately led to solving this case, and we are proud to serve a community that stands together in the face of tragedy.”

Special thanks to the FBI, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Forensic Services Division, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration, expertise, and dogged determination in solving this 35-year-old case.

In posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston wrote, “Contra Costa Sheriff’s Crime Lab played key role in the case. In 1997, lab analyzed biological evidence, generated a DNA profile, and uploaded it to CODIS database. Recently, crime lab received a reference sample from Lipari and was able to confirm that he was the suspect.

“The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Division Crime Lab is proud to assist our law enforcement partners in their investigations and help bring answers and closure to victim’s families,” he added.

During Wednesday’s press conference Contra Costa Deputy DA Satish Jallepalli said, “Thank you, (EBRPD Police) Chief Filice for having us here, today to remember Maria Weidhofer and to be able to speak on her behalf. Pursuit of justice is a marathon not a sprint. We’re all standing here today because of our shared commitment to justice. It’s been 35 years since Maria was murdered on November 15, 1990. Since that day, her death and circumstances touched everyone, her family, the community and members of law enforcement. Everyone who worked on this case for 30-plus years was dedicated to solving this crime. They did so with shared determination that Maria’s death would not remain unsolved.”

“The partnership of this case between East Bay Regional Parks Police, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit and the Contra Costa County Crime Lab was a reflection of that determination, using the latest technology and investigative techniques to obtain answers that could not have been obtained decades or even years ago,” he continued. “The pursuit of justice requires endurance, resilience and the willingness to go the distance even when the path ahead is long and uncertain,” Jallepalli stated. “While solving this case will never heal the wounds of Maria’s family caused by her murder we, from the District Attorney’s Office, are grateful to have been a part of that effort to bring these long-awaited answers to the community and more importantly, to her family.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Richmond child predator arrested while caught in the act

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22-year-old arrested on four charges including continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14
Charged by Contra Cost DA with 16 felony counts
Held on $7 million bail

By Lt. Donald Patchin, PIO, Richmond Police Department

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at around 3:00 PM, a Richmond PD sergeant was flagged down by someone who wanted to report a possible sexual assault. The person provided information about a juvenile who was possibly the victim of a sexual assault. Officers immediately launched an investigation. They determined the possible victim was currently with the alleged suspect. They also determined the suspect and victim were alone and unsupervised.

Officers immediately responded to the victim’s location. Upon knocking on the residence door, a male subject clad in only a bath towel answered. Officers quickly located the victim inside the residence and found out that the suspect was the male who answered the door. Officers learned through the subsequent investigation that the suspect had been in the act of sexually assaulting the juvenile when officers arrived on the scene. Officers knocking on the door forced the suspect to end the sexual assault.

Although we wish we would have arrived in time to prevent the sexual assault, we are glad we arrived in time to prevent the assault from continuing and to rescue this juvenile victim from their assailant.

Special Victims Unit Detectives immediately responded to assume the investigation. Detectives worked with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office to ensure the suspect remained in police custody and that charges were filed.

On January 30, 2025, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed a 16-count felony complaint against the suspect, Marlon Alexander Maravilla Martinez, a 22-year-old resident of Richmond (born May 22, 2002). He remains in custody with a $7,000,000.00 bail. All sixteen counts relate to lewd and sexual acts on a child who is ten years old or younger.

The victim is now safe with her family and receiving the help and resources she needs.

According to localcrimenews.com, Martinez was arrested for 261(A)(1) – rape of a victim incapable of consent, 288.5(A) – continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, 288(B)(1) – forcible lewd acts upon a child, and 288.7(A) – engaging in sexual intercourse or sodomy with child 10 or more years of age.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, six-inch, 215-pound Martinez is being held in the West County Detention Facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2025, in Superior Court in Martinez at 1:30 PM.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Richmond man wanted for felony domestic violence killed in officer involved shooting

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Brandished what appeared to be a knife but determined later to be a sheath

CA Attorney General investigating

By Lt. Donald Patchin, PIO, Richmond Police Department

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 8:13 p.m., officers from the Richmond Police Department responded to the 2700 block of Maine Avenue in an attempt to locate a wanted subject. The subject was wanted on a probation violation warrant related to domestic violence charges.

Officers located the wanted subject on the Union Pacific Railroad right of way just west of the 300 block of Carlson Blvd. The subject refused to cooperate with officers, and a standoff ensued. During the standoff, the suspect wielded an object that appeared to be a knife. The subject ignored multiple commands to drop the object. Officers spent approximately 32 minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation and reach a peaceful resolution.

Despite our officers’ efforts to defuse the situation and end the standoff peacefully, the suspect charged the officers with the object in his hand while raising it in a threatening manner. At approximately 8:53 p.m., an officer-involved shooting occurred, and the wanted subject sustained fatal injuries.

Suspect’s knife sheath discovered later. Photo by Richmond PD

We later determined the object was not a knife. The black knife sheath in the photo is the object the subject wielded, which investigators recovered at the scene.

The Contra Costa Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Protocol, a set of guidelines and procedures followed in cases of officer-involved fatalities, was invoked, and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office responded to investigate.

We are committed to a thorough, transparent investigation.

Under the requirements of AB 1506, we recognized the California Department of Justice (DOJ) treats this as an “unarmed” officer-involved fatal incident, and we immediately notified them. The DOJ dispatched investigators to the scene to investigate.

We are fully cooperating with the DOJ’s independent investigation. We believe it is important to release information in a transparent manner. We intend to release additional information as soon as the investigation allows.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Feb. 5, “California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ), pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), is investigating and will independently review an officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred in Richmond, California on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Following notification by local authorities, DOJ’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated an investigation in accordance with AB 1506 mandates. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.

More information on the California Department of Justice’s role and responsibilities under AB 1506 is available here: https://oag.ca.gov/ois-incidents.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Alexis Gabe’s family responds to DA’s decision not to charge alleged murderer’s mother

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Alexis Gabe from her missing poster photo in 2022 and her ex-boyfriend Marshall Jones seen unloading a black plastic bag at his mother’s house on Jan. 28, 2022. Source: Video screenshot from Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page.

“We are extremely disappointed” – Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father

Holds vigil on 3rd anniversary of day she went missing

Share videos showing Marshall Jones unloading black garbage bags at mother’s home, her discovering them in the garage, the two speaking, laughing and hugging

By Allen D. Payton

In a post on the Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, her father Gwyn Gabe provided a response to the decision by the Contra Costa District Attorney to not pursue charges against Alicia Coleman-Clark, the mother of Alexis’ alleged murderer, her now-deceased ex-boyfriend Marshall Curtis Jones, III. Gwyn wrote, “It’s not over.” (See related article) Part of Alexis’ remains were found in Amador County. Jones was later killed when police attempted to arrest him in Washington state. (See related articles here and here)

Post on Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page on Jan. 24, 2025.

Gwyn Gabe went on to write, “We are extremely disappointed. We just concluded a conversation with DA Diana Becton and Deputy DA Simon O’Connell. Despite having a substantial amount of evidence, they still declined to pursue charges.”

Another post on the Facebook page from July 2, 2022, was shared, showing Coleman-Clark’s mugshot which reads, “This is a picture of Marshall’s mother. She was arrested on May 19, 2022 and charged with Penal Code 32 (aiding & abetting) by OPD, but the DA declined to file charges.”

Alicia Coleman-Clark and her son Marshall Jones in front of her house in screenshots of undated security surveillance videos. Source: Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page.

Security Surveillance Videos at Suspect’s Mother’s Home

A security surveillance video from his mother’s house posted on that same Facebook page on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, shows Marshall Jones unloading black garbage bags from a truck at his mother’s house in Antioch. The post reads:

“THE BLACK GARBAGE BAGS.
Our case has concluded, and as I promised, here is the video of Marshall Jones unloading black garbage bags at his mother’s house on January 28, 2022. This video gave us nightmares and is quite disturbing and difficult to view. Please be careful with your comments. The ADT camera captures footage every 30 seconds, so you might see some gaps. I will share more videos soon.”

Another, undated video posted earlier that day shows his mother, Coleman-Clark, speaking on the phone with someone. The comment with the video reads, “Discovering the bags in her garage. ‘They’re ice cold….like they just came out of the refrigerator.’”

A third, undated video from what appears to be the same day also posted on the group’s Facebook page on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, shows Jones speaking with his mother wearing the same dress as in the undated video above, with the truck in the same location as it was shown in the previous video in which he unloaded the black bags. The comment with that post reads, “Garbage bags back in the SUV and on his way to his sister’s house. ‘I didn’t want to do it, but I did it’ ‘Come back thereafter, so people can see you’ ‘You can have people do it’ ‘Don’t talk to anybody.’ What else did you hear?”

More videos are posted on the Facebook page, including one on Saturday, Jan. 25, which includes the comment, “Just got back from Amador County. The karaoke party is still happening. Someone seemed a bit upset, though.”

A vigil for Alexis was held on Sunday night, Jan. 26, the third anniversary of the date she went missing. KTVU FOX 2, KPIX 5 News, NBC News Bay Area and ABC 7 News covered the event.

“It still really hurts everyday that you wake up without my daughter,” said Alexis’ mother, Rowena Gabe.

Canadian man sentenced for “sextortion” of Contra Costa County minor

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Arrested in 2021 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for multiple online child exploitation offences

Multi-agency effort

Sentenced to 2 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, must register as a sex offender for 10 years

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

A 25-year-old man from Gulf Island, Canada, has been sentenced to prison for sexually extorting a minor in Contra Costa County in 2020, in what is commonly referred to as a “Sextortion” attack.

In the fall of 2019, Nicholas Fahey used a social media application to contact a minor in Contra Costa County and solicited sexually explicit images from the victim. After the victim complied, Fahey sent the victim a series of threats, indicating he would release the images of the victim unless the victim complied with his demands for more photographs.

The investigation was referred to the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Fahey was identified as the suspect through an investigation of his social media accounts. Ultimately, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Fahey at his home in Bay Bulls, Canada, located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Fahey was charged on May 21, 2021, in Canada’s version of Superior Court.

On January 23, 2025, Fahey was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Fahey will also serve a term of three years of supervised release.

“This investigation highlights the shared commitment of the ICAC Task Force and HSI to pursue criminals, even those operating beyond U.S. borders,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “Parents need to understand that individuals who prey on minors online are not restricted by national or state boundaries. Those who use the internet to harm our youth should know that my office will collaborate with law enforcement agencies like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to seek justice for the victims in our county.”

Sextortion is the most common crime targeting children on social media. According to the FBI, between 2021 and 2023, 12,600 children in the United States were victims of sextortion, resulting in at least 20 suicides.

To report sextortion, contact your local law enforcement agency or file a report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about the risks associated with smartphone use and social media. If parents, educators, or organizations are interested in presentations on topics like smartphones, social media, or our Vigilant Parents initiative, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at DAOffice@contracostada.org.

According to Corporal Jolene Garland, Media Relations Officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland and Labrador, on April 29, 2021, then-twenty-two-year-old Nicholas Fahey of Gull Island was arrested, following an investigation by the RCMP/RNC Integrated Internet Child Exploitation (IICE) team. He is charged with multiple online child exploitation offences.

The investigation began in early 2020, after police received reports from the US Department of Homeland Security that two American youth had been exploited online by a resident of this province. A local investigation by IICE led to a search warrant that was executed on a Gull Island residence in July of 2020.

Fahey is now charged with the following criminal offences:
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Transmission of Child Pornography
• Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child
• Luring a Child (x2)
• Indecent Act (exposure)
• Extortion (x2)
• Invitation to Sexual Touching

Fahey was released from custody on conditions designed to protect the general public and was scheduled to appear in court on June 16, 2021.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise proper supervision of children while online and to foster regular discussions with their children about online safety.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Contra Costa DA files additional charges against infamous convicted kidnapper

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Matthew Muller mugshot, Dublin, California, June 9, 2015. Source: Wikipedia

For a previously unreported 2015 kidnapping for ransom at residence near San Ramon

Arizona kidnapping became focus of 2024 season of Netflix true crime series “American Nightmare”

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed a three-count felony complaint against a convicted kidnapper and rapist whose crimes include a high-profile case featured in a documentary series.

Matthew Daniel Muller, 47, is currently serving a 40-year federal prison sentence in Tucson, Arizona, for the 2015 kidnapping and rape of Denise Huskins — a case that drew widespread media attention and became the focus of the 2024 season of American Nightmare, a Netflix true crime series.

According to his Wikipedia page, Muller is a former immigration attorney, and Marine veteran. He is known for carrying out the kidnapping in Vallejo, California, referred to in the media as the ”Gone Girl” kidnapping.

The new charges filed on Jan. 6, 2025, by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office stem from a previously unreported 2015 kidnapping for ransom at a residence in an unincorporated area of San Ramon. The crime came to light over the course of 2024 through correspondence between law enforcement and Muller, during which he confessed to multiple crimes in Northern California, including the 2015 incident in Contra Costa County.

After learning of Muller’s confession, detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation, despite the lack of a reported crime in 2015. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office joined the investigation on December 13th, 2024, which included a meeting with Muller.

In the spring of 2015, Muller unlawfully held two John Does and one Jane Doe for ransom, demanding that one of the captives withdraw tens of thousands of dollars from their bank account to secure the release of the others. After obtaining the money, Muller fled the residence.

Fearing retribution, the victims never reported the crime. To this day, they have chosen to remain anonymous.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office collaborated with the El Dorado and Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Offices to coordinate investigative efforts. These efforts resulted in three felony charges of kidnapping for ransom [PC 209(a)] filed in Contra Costa Superior Court.

“The trauma of crime can have lasting effects that some people endure for their entire lives – whether the crime is reported or not,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton. “Muller committed serious offenses throughout Northern California, and my office will be resolute in seeking justice on behalf of the victims in Contra Costa County.”
Muller is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges at a future date in Contra Costa Superior Court.

The case is “The People of the State of California v. Muller, Matthew Daniel.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.