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2 Suspects Arrested in 2007 Murder of 82-Year Old Man in Rosemead
Arcadia Weekly May 31, 2012
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On November 5, 2007 in the early afternoon hours, victim Robert Hewitt, male White, 82-years of age, was robbed and assaulted in the garage of his residence in the 8500 Block of Guess Street in Rosemead.
Temple Station deputies responded and discovered Victim Hewitt had sustained multiple blunt force trauma injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in a coma until being pronounced dead 11 months later from injuries sustained in the robbery.
Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Investigators Ken Perry and Dan McElderry were assigned to the investigation upon Hewitt’s death.
Possible suspects, who attempted to use the victim’s stolen credit cards after the robbery were identified and interviewed, but could not be tied directly to the robbery or murder.
Biological evidence left at the scene led investigators to confirm the possible suspect. An additional second suspect and suspect vehicle were also identified. The scientific evidence implicated the same individuals who had used the stolen credit cards. However, there was not enough evidence to obtain a criminal filing for the robbery or murder and the case went cold for several years.
In May 2012, Investigators McElderry and Perry were able to gain additional information through investigative techniques, which led to the arrest of the two suspects in connection to the robbery and murder of Victim Hewitt.
On May 14, 2012, two admitted gang members from the San Gabriel Valley area, Suspect Adrian Gardea, a 26-year man from Whittier and Leonardo Alegre, a 36-year old man from Montebello, were arraigned in Rio Hondo Superior Court and are being held in-custody with no bail. The pending charges are one count each of murder, robbery and burglary. Also filed was a special circumstance allegation, crimes against the elderly.
Any information about this case can be directed to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau investigators at (323) 890-5500. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
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