Pasadena Police Nab Murder Suspect with Help of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico

On Tuesday November 24, 2020, at approximately 7:52 AM, Pasadena Police responded to Hahamongna Watershed Park in response to a deceased adult female victim found by a passerby. Evidence from the crime scene indicated the victim had been stabbed multiple times. The victim was positively identified as 49-year-old Elena Ledford, a resident of Glendale, CA. An autopsy examination of victim Ledford by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death to be the result of multiple sharp force injuries. Pasadena Police Homicide Detectives developed leads early in the investigation, revealing the location of the murder to be a parking lot at La Canada High School, directly across the street from where the victim’s body was found. Furthermore, Detectives identified 26- year-old Pasadena resident Adrian Robert Casey as the likely suspect. Suspect Casey is currently on parole with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and had a familiar relationship with victim Ledford. It was learned Mr. Casey had left California shortly after the murder and on Thursday November 26, 2020 he was taken into custody with the assistance of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pasadena Police Homicide personnel responded to New Mexico in continuance of their investigation, resulting in the recovery of additional evidence, including the murder weapon and other items linking the suspect to the crime.

Here’s a copy of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico press release:

On November 26, 2020, at 2:23 AM, East Area Command deputies observed a suspicious vehicle bearing a California license plate parked at NM Highway 333 and Tijeras Avenue. Deputies attempted to contact the occupant, later identified as Adrian Robert Casey. The individual covered his face with a blanket and would not respond to deputies. Upon a standard check of the vehicle’s information through NCIC, deputies learned the vehicle and the occupant were wanted out of California in reference to a homicide investigation. Once deputies learned this information, a high-risk felony stop was conducted as the subject remained barricaded in the vehicle. After approximately two hours of PA announcements and high-risk stop tactics, the subject exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. The vehicle was sealed and towed, pending a follow-up investigation from the initial agency in Pasadena, CA. BCSO detectives are assisting the initial agency in obtaining a warrant for the vehicle and a warrant for Adrian Robert Casey. Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III stated, “I would like to commend our East Area Command deputies for their proactive efforts in keeping our citizens safe. Our deputies did a great job peacefully taking this dangerous criminal into custody. Their apprehension will aid in the collaborative homicide investigation with the Pasadena Police Department.

On December 3, 2020, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and suspect Casey was charged with numerous counts including PC 187(a) – Murder. He currently remains in custody in New Mexico on a CDCR Parole Violation charge and is awaiting extradition back to California. The family of the deceased respectfully requests for privacy during this time. Pasadena Police is asking anyone with information about this case to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or you may report information anonymously by calling “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestop

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