Edward Jesus Elias and Leopoldo Chavez II, both 36, were found guilty of first-degree murder and special-circumstance allegations including murder during a robbery of Keith Combs & Eugene Ellis. They were teenagers at the time they killed Keith Combs and Eugene “Cliff” Ellis. Elias and Chavez were both sentenced to serve life without the possibility of parole. […]
Ballistics
Verdict in the Combs and Ellis murder trial
A verdict has been reached in the Combs and Ellis trial. Edward Jesus Elias and Leopoldo Castro Chavez II were accused of robbing and fatally shooting Combs and Ellis, two San Diego-based sailors. Though detectives who documented the murder scene recovered fingerprints and genetic evidence apparently belonging to the killer(s), the original investigation yielded no […]
Trial for Keith Combs and Eugene Ellis
The long awaited trial in the cases of Keith Combs and Eugene Ellis has started. “Edward Jesus Elias and Leopoldo Castro Chavez II, both 36, are each charged with two counts of murder in the Sept. 25, 1993, deaths of 20-year-old Eugene “Cliff” Ellis and 23-year-old Keith Combs. The victims were stationed aboard the aircraft […]
Slow Movement Trey Noah Murder Trial
There is no way of knowing when the murder of Trey Noah will finally go to court. Brandon Harber and Shelby Moore were charged with Trey’s murder and will eventually be tried in Gillespie County, TX. However, “an initial confession from Moore was tossed out in a pre-trial hearing. The DA is appealing that decision. That […]
Book alert: Cold Case Research
Book alert: Cold Case Research. In 2012 “Cold Case Research” will come out. The author is Silvia Pettem and this is how she describes her book: “Cold Case Research: Resources for Unidentified, Missing, and Cold Homicide Cases,” to be published by CRC Press in 2012. Topics include the latest search engine tools such as TLO, the […]
Top cop asks public’s help in Crewe Murders
The New Zealand Herald brings fantastic news. Senior Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock, who is reviewing the Crewe murders, wants the public’s help. He asks anyone with information to contact him. He wants to help find answers for their only child, Rochelle Crewe. I quote: “I am extremely keen to hear from anyone who may have information […]
Update Keith Combs & Eugene Ellis
From the Patch in the case of Keith Combs & Eugene Ellis: “A preliminary hearing was held Wednesday for two men accused in the shooting deaths of two San Diego-based sailors in Otay Mesa 18 years ago.” The hearing for Edward Jesus Elias and Leopoldo Castro Chavez II, both 35, was to have started Tuesday morning but was […]
Update Murder Trial for Trey Noah
There isn’t going to be any movement in the murder trial for Trey Noah any time soon. Shelby Moore and Brandon Harber are charged with first-degree felony murder as well as tampering with physical evidence, a second-degree felony. They were both arrested in June 2010 and are now released on bond. From the Blanco News: […]
Penn State CSI Students on the Zeigler Case
Penn State CSI Students on the Zeigler Case: a review of Zeigler Project. During their final spring semester twenty five (25) undergraduate and five (5) graduate students from Penn State University (PSU) reviewed documents pertaining to the trial and conviction of William Thomas Zeigler. Mr. Zeigler was convicted in 1976 of murdering his wife Eunice Zeigler, […]
Chris Birt on the Crewe Murders
In the magazine “North & South,” Chris Birt makes a strong case for an in-depth review of Len and Norma Thomas Demler’s involvement in the case. Note that Norma is not related to Arthur Allan Thomas. Strong ties have existed between the Demler and Thomas family for some time. The siblings in the family married each […]