Prosecution says knife found in alley links suspect to murders in day 10 of La Mesa Murders Trial

Prosecutors say a knife found in an alley just two miles from the home links the suspect to the crime.

Police say the family’s Dodge Durango was taken from the home of the victims and abandoned in a neighborhood near Sanguinetti Park. Footprints in an alley led police to the knife. Prosecutors say the knife belonged to the family. It was found more than half way down the alley which exited at Sanguinetti Park. According to prosecutors, Strong’s car was at Sanguinetti Park on the night of the murders.

The knife was found near the family’s Dodge Durango which had been missing from the home.

On Thursday, retired Yuma Police Department Detective Jeff Ruby told the jury police officers found the knife near Luis Rios’ Dodge Durango which had been missing from the home.

“Near where the car, Durango, was found, there was a knife. Luis and Adrienne had a set of knives at their house,” Prosecutor John Tate, told the jury on February 7, during opening statements.

During opening statements the Prosecution alleged the suspect had used the Durango as his getaway car.

“She [a witness] saw someone get into the Dodge Durango that belonged to Luis and leave the residence,” Tate said during opening statements.

The Durango was found by police officers on the 600 block of W. 21 Street the morning after the murders.

“It didn’t make sense to me that a vehicle that belonged to the victims would be in this area if it should be with the victims,” Ruby explained.

Ruby told the jury that he had arrived on scene, June 25, at about 6 a.m.

The knife was found in an alley between Sixth and Seventh Avenue, and south of 21 Street.

According to Ruby the knife was found laying on the ground.

“It didn’t look like it had been laying out for a significant amount of time,” Ruby said.

Ruby said fresh footprints led officers to the knife.

“You could tell by the ridge line that the footprints were fresh. The more that time goes by the more the ridge starts to disintegrate,” Ruby explained.

Ruby said officers canvassed the neighborhood and searched dumpsters in the alley for evidence. They interviewed neighbors and checked backyards.

“We made note of the homes with no one home, for officers to follow up at a later time,” Ruby said.

During opening statements the prosecution said the alley’s proximity to Sanguinetti Park linked Preston Strong to the murders.

Prosecutors said a friend of Preston Strong’s gave him a ride to the Park on the night of the murders.

“He said he needed a ride, he needed to be picked up and taken to his car,” Tate told the jury, “She picked him up and took him to his parked at Sanguinetti Park. Sanguinetti Park.”

According to Tate the friend said she received the call from Strong at 8:39 p.m.

However, the defense has questioned the friend’s credibility.

“You’re going to hear that the very first time they spoke to Ada Harris; one she didn’t know what day she gave him a ride, and two she gave him a ride in the afternoon, not at 8:39 at night,” Fox told the jury on February 7, during opening statements.

The trial resumes on Monday, March 6.