A Modesto man was killed when the car he was riding in struck a parked semi trailer in southwest Modesto.

On Tuesday, February 21st, at about 4:35 PM, Modesto Police were dispatched to Morgan Rd and Oates Ct to investigate a major vehicle collision involving a semi truck and trailer. When officers arrived they found that a white Kia Optima had struck the back of a parked semi trailer which was parked on the west side of Morgan Rd just south of Oates Ct. The collision caused a good portion of the Kia to become wedged under the back of the semi trailer.

The male passenger, believed to be a Modesto resident in his 20’s, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Fire and ambulance personnel worked for nearly an hour to stabilize the driver and then remove him from the wreckage. The driver, a 19-year-old Modesto resident, was transported to a local hospital for treatment for serious injuries sustained in the collision. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening at this time.

The Modesto Police Department Traffic Unit was called to the scene to investigate. The investigation is on-going and officers will be attempting to determine what caused the driver to collide with the parked trailer. At this early point in the investigation no final determinations have been made; however officers are looking into the possibility that drug and/or alcohol may have played a roll in the collision.

At 3:01 PM today Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Shiva’s Motel in the 700 Block of S. 9th Street for a subject who had been shot. When deputies arrived to the motel parking lot they found a black male adult with a gunshot wound. The victim was pronounced dead on scene. During the investigation Jose Angel Cervantes 22 y/o of Modesto turned himself in to detectives. Cervantes was interviewed and has been arrested for homicide. Detectives continue to work on leads and interview witnesses. They know there were more witnesses to this homicide and ask they come forward to speak with detectives.

Anyone with information about this case can contact the Detective Jon McQueary at 209-525-7099. Callers can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing “Tip704″ plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward

Miguel Amaya, charged with attempted Murder

On Monday, February 20th at 5:14 PM, the Ceres Police Department received a call of a large fight in front of a home in the 2500 block of Morgan Road. Additional reports came in of shots being fired and a woman injured. Officers arrived and attended to a 29-year-old female resident who was shot below her the left clavicle.
Ceres Investigators learned this incident began as a feud between Miguel Amaya, 29 years out of Modesto, , and a male resident at this home. Earlier in the day, Miguel Amaya found the resident at a business on Hatch Road. Miguel Amaya followed him to his home on Morgan Road, where an argument ensued. Miguel Amaya was accompanied by Saul Amaya, 27 years out of Modesto and Juan Corrilo, 18 years out of Modesto.
When the argument became heated, the female victim heard the commotion outside of the home. She walked outside and Miguel Amaya fired several shots using a .40 caliber handgun. She suffered a gun shot wound and was transported to a local area hospital by ambulance. The victim is currently in stable condition.
Investigators searched the outside of the residence and found shell casings and several bullet holes on exterior of the residence. Some of the bullet holes were from a previous drive by shooting. This is the third weapons-related incident at this home in two years.
Investigators do not believe the female victim was the intended target for the gun fire; however, the motive is still being investigated.
Ceres Investigators interviewed witnesses and followed tips to an apartment in the 2900 block of Third Street in Ceres, California. At about 08:00 PM, Miguel Amaya, and his alleged co-conspirators were located and apprehended leaving the Third Street address. The Ceres SWAT Team served a search warrant at the Third Street residence after they were taken into custody; the search did not yield any evidence in connection to the shooting.
1
Miguel Amaya was arrested and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail for attempted murder. Saul Amaya and Juan Corrilo were booked on accessory charges. Saul Amaya received an additional charge for violation of parole.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation currently funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. St. Baldricks Shaving the way to conquer Kids Cancer!

California State University (CSU), Stanislaus was recently recognized by two national publications for its policies that favor American service members and facilitate their educational pursuits. The online publication G.I. Jobs (http://www.gijobs.com) included the university in its 2012 list of Military Friendly Schools®. The list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s service members and veterans as students. The Military Friendly Schools list is a resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the greatest opportunity and overall experience. The colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list prioritize the recruitment of students with military experience. These schools are making the grade by offering scholarships and discounts, veterans’ clubs, full-time staff, military credit and other services to those who served.

A second publication, Military Advance Education, commended CSU Stanislaus for “enacting academic, support and financial aid policies that benefit the men and women who serve our nation” in naming the university to its 2012 Guide to Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities.

A Riverbank City Councilman was arrested by Oakdale Police early this morning on felony charges of DUI and Child endangerment according to a news release.

Jesse James White was involved in a traffic collision at approximately 1am near Highway 108 at Mann Avenue according to police. He then tried to flee the scene on foot, leaving a small child behind in the vehicle. A witness detained White nearby and held him until police arrived. White’s speech was slurred, and there was a noticeable odor of alcohol. He could not stand on his own.

White was also the focus of a lawsuit by the city of Riverbank, drug charges, and a recall.

The child suffered minor injuries in the crash and was released to family members.

Sheriff’s Detectives assigned to Patterson Police Services are investigating a drive-by shooting that left two people injured on Friday evening. At 7:30 PM deputies responded to the 200 Block of Torvend for a shooting. When deputies arrived they found two victims, both were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It appears at this point in the investigation that this was a gang related shooting.

Anyone with information about this case can contact Patterson Detectives at 209-892-5071. Callers can also leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also e-mail tips at http://www.modestopolice.com/CrimeStoppers, or text them to CRIMES (274637) by typing “Tip704″ plus the message and be eligible for a cash reward.

Convicted killers Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, a.k.a. the "Speed Freak Killers"

Recently, authorities have been lead to a site in Linden where about 1,000 pieces of human remains were discovered in a well. Now the search is on for a second well where presumably more victims of the ‘Speed Freak Killers’ have been buried.

Convicted murderers Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine were originally found guilty for 4 murders, and now after recent confessions there could be approximately 15 more victims.

Could any of the duo’s victims be Modestans? It’s quite possible.

The killings began as early as 1984, Herzog and Shermantine were captured by authorities in 1999. Herzog recently committed suicide outside of his trailer after his partner began revealing the location of the victims’ bodies to bounty hunter Leonard Padilla.

Just this past week, Shermantine wrote a letter to CBS13 Reporter Koula Gianulias where his very last words state “He was taking people from Modesto as well.”

We decided to investigate into who these possible victims might be through missing persons reports spanning the time of their murder spree. It is interesting to note that all victims from within our radius are young women from mid teens to mid thirties and all brunette. The following case profiles are what we found.

Susan Bender at age 15 at the time of her disappearance.

Susan Robin Bender, reported missing late April of 1986. Bender was last seen at the former Greyhound bus depot at 10th and G streets in downtown Modesto. She was supposed to be traveling to Carmel to stay with friends, but she was seen entering a green 1977 Ford van. She has not been seen since. Some of her belongings including a diary and clothing were found at a suspect’s home after she disappeared. That person was questioned by investigators but was released due to a lack of evidence. Officials suspect foul play in her disappearance.

Sylvia Lourdes Standley in an undated photo.

Sylvia Lourdes Standley, last seen June 3rd, 1986. Standley walked out of Stanislaus County Women’s Facility on Oakdale Road on June 3, 1986, after serving a two-week sentence for a drug violation. She called her family to let them know she would be home later in the day, that she would catch a ride to her Modesto home with her new boyfriend. No one in her family had ever met her new boyfriend and didn’t know his name, or anything about him. She was last seen getting into a green or blue truck. She never returned home.
When Standley went to jail, she left her 8-month old infant daughter with her mother.

Sherie Ann Graves in an undated photo.

Graves was last seen in Modesto, California on May 1, 1988. Her mother reported her missing in 1992, but detectives believe Graves disappeared four years earlier.
She and her husband lived in various trailer parks and motels in south Modesto. Foul play is suspected.

Ruth Ann Leamon disappeared at age 16.

Ruth Ann Leamon disappeared on August 19, 1982 when she was only sixteen years of age. A sophomore at Davis High School in 1982, Leamon was last seen leaving her guardian’s residence in Modesto and walking to a nearby grocery store (Sam’s Food City on Carver) for a soda. Although Leamon’s body has never been recovered, this case is presumed to be a homicide.

Christine Marie Sexton (Turlock)

Christine Marie Sexton was last seen after 2:00 a.m. on April 17, 1989, leaving the Office Cocktail Lounge in Turlock, California. Her friends said that she had been talking to a man in the parking lot of the lounge before getting into her own car and driving away.
Ten days after her disappearance, her 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was found submerged in an irrigation canal a mile west of Turlock Lake near Davis Road. Her keys and some of her clothing were inside the car, but her purse was missing.

Convicted killer Wesley Shermantine writes that Loren Herzog may have victims from Modesto.

The letter written to CBS 13 by Wesley Shermantine can be read here

Wesley Shermantine's Map

A crude map drawn by convicted killer Wesley Shermantine, showing the site of a well where Loren Herzog disposed the bodies of their victims. This is the current site where officials are excavating in Linden, at Escalon-Belotta and Flood Roads.

Modesto Police Detectives have arrested a second suspect in connection with last week’s double homicide in northeast Modesto.

In the evening hours of Friday February 10th, officers were called to the 2400 block of Vera Cruz in northeast Modesto to investigate a shooting. Officers responded and found 15-year-old Rolando Luna and 19-year-old Andrew Ensey in front of an apartment complex both with gunshot wounds. Luna was pronounced dead at the scene while Ensey was transported to a local hospital. Ensey died from his injuries the next day.

Detectives were called to the scene and started gathering witness and suspect information. The investigation led to the arrest of 20-year-old Modesto resident Robbie Blackwell. He was booked Thursday into Stanislaus County Jail for two counts of homicide.

On Friday detectives arrested 26-year-old Nicholas Spangler of Ceres in connection with the shooting deaths of Luna and Ensey. He was also booked on two counts of homicide into the Stanislaus County Jail.

Detectives are still continuing with this investigation and are following up on additional leads.

Police still ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to call Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers by sending a text message to 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message