Young child witness to murder-suicide of parents

On a day meant to celebrate love and commitment, a man shot to death his estranged girlfriend in front of their 8-year-old son and then turned the gun on himself.

Correctional officer accused of smuggling tobacco

A guard at the John Latorraca Correctional facility in Merced was taken into custody Wednesday morning on allegations he was smuggling contraband into the jail.

Man charged with attempted murder for shooting at police

The suspect who opened fire on law enforcement coming to take him into custody for shooting at a Ceres police officer is now facing multiple charges of attempted murder of a peace officer.

Record haul made in drug raid

The largest marijuana bust in Stanislaus County was made Monday when local, state, and federal agents raided a grow operation in Crows Landing.

Fire, police officials testify in Red Steer arson hearing

The preliminary hearing for a Turlock restaurateur accused of setting fire to his popular eatery, got underway Tuesday, but because of scheduling conflicts, the hearing won't conclude and a ruling won't be issued for more than a month from now.

Suspect opens fire on police

A man, who is suspected of shooting at a Ceres police officer days earlier, was wounded during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement Friday evening just outside of Turlock.

Test confirms boy’s identity

The DNA test samples submitted to the California Department of Justice have confirmed the child found in a canal Tuesday is that of 4-year-old Juliani Cardenas.

Special DUI enforcement for Super Bowl planned

Whether you're a Green Bay cheese head or part of the Steeler nation, or just watch for the commercials, the Turlock Police Department is reminding all football fans not to include drinking and driving in the Super Bowl celebrations.

Homeless man beaten, robbed

The Turlock Police Department is searching for a man who robbed a transient Sunday night.

Turlock bank robbed

Turlock Police detectives are investigating a bank robbery at the Oak Valley Community Bank by a lone man.

Crash claims life of Planada man

A 23-year-old Planada man is facing multiple felony charges including hit and run, stemming from a vehicle crash that left his passenger dead in a Merced Irrigation District canal.

County eighth in state for young homicide victims

Stanislaus County has one of the worst youth homicide rates in the state according to a newly released report.

Body of missing boy found in canal

The yellow and blue ribbons tied to the palm trees outside the Patterson Police Department that were a symbol of the hope and effort to bring Juliani Cardenas home safely whipped in the wind Tuesday afternoon as Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson made the grim announcement that a body matching that of the missing 4-year-old boy was pulled from the canal Tuesday morning.

Shoplifting case escalates to robbery charges

Two men attempting to shoplift items from a Turlock grocery store are now facing strong arm robbery charges after they fought with store employees.

Vandalism charges for brawlers

A brawl between several individuals resulted in felony vandalism charges for two men.

Man caught with phony IDs

A Turlock man is facing a litany of criminal charges after he was caught with a stolen credit card and phony identification cards. The arrest of 45-year-old Kreig Bettencourt came shortly after he used one of the fake ID cards and the stolen credit card to rent a generator from a Turlock store. Bettencourt was stopped around 5:30 p.m. Friday in the 1400 block of South Avenue. He had in his possession ...

Driver killed in solo wreck outside Turlock

A 29-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence crashed his truck early Sunday morning on Santa Fe Avenue and died from his injuries, the California Highway Patrol reported. The deceased was identified as Barry Dejong of Ballico, according to the Stanislaus County Coroner's Office. Around 3 a.m. Sunday Dejong was driving his 2000 Chevrolet S-10 pickup southbound on Santa Fe Avenue at an undetermined speed. Just north of East Avenue, ...

Turlock mother to stand trial for starving daughter to death

A Turlock mother will stand trial for the murder of her 2-year-old daughter, who died a slow death from dehydration and starvation, the medical examiner reported. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Dawna Frenchie Reeves ruled Monday there was enough cause to hold Brandy Lee Rose Devine over for trial on the charges lodged against her. Devine, 25, is facing a murder charge for the death of her 2-year-old daughter Stephanie Torres, as well ...

Woman convicted for posing as Cardoza aide

An Atwater woman was found guilty Tuesday on allegation she falsely represented herself as a congressional aide for former Congressman Dennis Cardoza in a scheme to deceive clients of her tax consulting business. Susan Tomsha-Miguel, 52, was convicted of the sole count of impersonating an officer or employee of the United States. The jury deliberated for only 15 minutes before returning a guilty verdict, according to the Department of Justice. Tomsha-Miguel operated a ...

Court hears details of toddler's horrific death

A Turlock 2-year-old girl with cerebral palsy was kept in her crib and shut away in a filthy room with five cats and no food or water for three days before she was found dead by her mother - the woman now standing accused of her murder. Brandy Rose Lee Devine, 25, of Turlock is facing a murder charge for the death of her 2-year-old daughter Stephanie Torres, as well as a felony ...

Neighborly concern gets gunshot return

A Hilmar woman escaped a potentially deadly encounter unscathed after an armed man fired several shots at her Sunday morning. The suspect, 44-year-old Trinidad Ruesga, was apprehended hours later by the Merced County Sheriff's Department and remains in custody despite his failed escape attempt at the sheriff's department. The incident was put into motion several days prior to Sunday when Ruesga got into some type of altercation with individuals in the area ...

Delhi man ruled incompetent for trial in father’s slaying

A Delhi man facing a murder charge for the shooting of his father has been ruled too incompetent to stand trial. After hearing from two court-appointed psychologists, a Merced County judge ruled Tuesday that Jason Curtis Reed, 35, would not be able to assist in his own defense and should be committed to a state mental health facility. Reed's father, 67-year-old J.D. reed, was found shot to death on the morning of ...

Residents catch man breaking into vehicle

Three Turlock men helped the Turlock Police Department nab an auto burglary suspect after catching him in the act and chasing him for several blocks. The incident began at 4:19 p.m. Saturday when a caller reported a suspicious man in the parking lot of 1611 Lander Ave. According to the caller the man was walking up to the vehicles and checking for any open doors. The caller gave a detailed description of the ...

Man on stolen motorcycle injured in Sonora crash

A Turlock man was hospitalized after crashing a stolen motorcycle while trying to flee a California Highway Patrol officer in Sonora. Joshua Lankford, 26, was airlifted to Memorial Medical Center Saturday night after the 2007 Honda motorcycle he was driving crashed into the back of a car on Main Street in Sonora. Lankford was driving the motorcycle on Highway 49 when a CHP officer noticed he was traveling at an excessive speed ...

Arson charges for three women in Turlock fire

Women accused of setting fire at cheese factory

Fire erupts at former cheese plant

Three nabbed for gas station heists

Three people were arrested Monday in connection with a series of thefts at Turlock gas stations. The three individuals, identified as husband and wife Timothy and Brandi Drake, both 45 years old and from Turlock, and Gerald Rue, 40, of Keyes were charged with grand theft and felony vandalism for allegedly stealing the cash boxes from three gas station pay stations. The three thefts were reported at Arco stations on Fulkerth Road, ...

Woman admits to bilking $2 million through surrogate scheme

A former Hilmar resident has pleaded guilty to concocting a scheme that defrauded $2 million from prospective parents through her Modesto-based surrogate agency. Tonya Ann Collins, 37, entered her guilty plea Tuesday in federal court to four counts of wire fraud connected to Surrogenesis USA Inc. and the Michael Charles Independent Financial Holding Group. Surrogenesis was a surrogate and egg donation agency that marketed itself as assisting individuals in having children through ...

Trial set for Denair slaying

A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge has set an August trial date for the Denair teenager accused of stabbing her parents, leading to her father's death. On Wednesday Judge John Freeland ordered for the trial to begin Aug. 6 for 19-year-old Shanna Wills, who stands accused of murder for the death of her father, Kenneth Wills, and attempted murder for the attack on her mother, Susan Wills, on May 8, 2011. Wills ...