GUILTY CA - David Wicks, 54, clerk burned alive at gas station, Burney, 21 Dec 2016

[al66pine]

On Tuesday, December 27 an autopsy was performed on David Wicks. They are most likely trying to find out the type(s) of accelerant(s) used to douse him with. Results should take about two weeks. They are also in the midst of trying to connect DNA from both the bike and the rain gear. Not sure how long this takes. I'm wondering what has come of any interviews with suspects. I hope we'll find out something more soon. The only other update that I've found is that there is going to be a public memorial for David Wicks on Saturday, January 21st at 2 pm at the Burney High School gymnasium. It would be nice to have an arrest before this takes place.

darmela
Thx for this ^ update.

If LE has released vid of perp in store, or arriving, departing, - not just still photo or SS - I've missed it. Anyone. Thanks in adv.

 

[Indy Anna]

darmela
Thx for this ^ update.

If LE has released vid of perp in store, or arriving, departing, - not just still photo or SS - I've missed it. Anyone. Thanks in adv.

There are MSM articles that refer to surveillance video of perp entering the store and recording his movements until he leaves the store, but apparently it has not been released to the public (I think it was stated somewhere that the reasoning is that it was so horrific to watch):

Surveillance video was reviewed of the incident and the video showed the horrific chain of events.

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/sh...or-information-about-burey-homicide/235206608

Surveillance video captured the attack and the man's getaway.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/c...continues-investigation-into-murder/95916094/


It sounds like the sequence of events may have occurred so quickly that LE couldn't isolate a short frame of video that would be suitable for the public. I hope they have enough evidence with locating the bike and rain gear the perp abandoned as he fled and the still shot from the store video. I'm also hoping there is surveillance video of the perp from outside video cams from other businesses and private residences, especially near where he abandoned the bike and rain gear. If that were the case, though, LE would likely be releasing video of the perp in the clothes he wore under the rain gear and would be able to trace his flight back home or to the vicinity of his home. It does take LE a while to obtain surveillance video from businesses and private citizens to review, so they may still be in the process of requesting surveillance video and sifting through it for images of the perp. JMO

 

[darmela]

BREAKING NEWS: AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE!!!

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/breaking-news/arrest-in-murder-of-burney-man-set-on-fire/279931238

 

[Lilibet]

BREAKING NEWS: AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE!!!

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/breaking-news/arrest-in-murder-of-burney-man-set-on-fire/279931238

Very good news indeed.

On Thursday, around 12:30 p.m., detectives with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, Major Crimes Unit arrested Juan Manuel Venegas, 39, based upon evidence collected and identified during the month long investigation. Venegas was arrested at his residence on Telecaster Lane in west Redding.
Venegas was arrested on an arrest warrant for the murder of David Wicks.

 

[Lilibet]

Items found during the investigation, including rain gear found in Johnson Park, were sent to the California Department of Justice for DNA analysis. The analysis showed the items belonged to Venegas, according to the sheriff's office.
Venegas was a resident of Burney, Johnson Park and the Fall River Mills area.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2017/01/19/deputies-arrest-suspect-murder-man-set-fire/96807404/

 

[darmela]

Here's the perp's FB page: http://bit.ly/2jG03Cs

 

[Lilibet]

^^^^^^ Are you absolutely sure this is the right Juan Manuel Venegas? I can't find confirmation anywhere. He seems like a pretty nice guy with a wife who has had a successful career. I really hope this is a mistake. I figured it would be a disturbed loner. JMO

 

[Elley Mae]

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/shasta/arrest-in-murder-of-burney-man-set-on-fire/279931238

During these searches, several pieces of evidence were located in Johnson Park that detectives believed were related to the suspect. These items were collected and sent to the California Department of Justice for DNA analysis. As a result of the DNA analysis of different pieces of evidence, Venegas was identified.

Sounds like with the dna match that he was already in the system, I wonder what for? Unless he submitted dna for a genealogy history, but I doubt that. jmo idk

 

[Elley Mae]

Juan Manuel Venegas, 39, of Redding was arrested on Thursday afternoon on an arrest warrant for the murder of Wicks based on evidence collected and identified during the investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...-arrest-suspect-murder-man-set-fire/96807404/

 

[Elley Mae]

Photo here.


http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/shasta/arrest-in-murder-of-burney-man-set-on-fire/279931238



http://static.lakana.com/bmg-krcrtv...an m_1484916105824_5659249_ver1.0_640_360.jpg

 

[Lilibet]

http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/shasta/arrest-in-murder-of-burney-man-set-on-fire/279931238

During these searches, several pieces of evidence were located in Johnson Park that detectives believed were related to the suspect. These items were collected and sent to the California Department of Justice for DNA analysis. As a result of the DNA analysis of different pieces of evidence, Venegas was identified.

Sounds like with the dna match that he was already in the system, I wonder what for? Unless he submitted dna for a genealogy history, but I doubt that. jmo idk

Yes, his DNA would have to be in the system for some reason. Interestingly, regarding DNA, if the FB linked above is correct, JV has a twin who is a community leader in Fall River Mills. Not likely that DNA was confused, but it jumped out at me. I guess I'm still having trouble believing they got the right guy. Which goes to show...what do I know?!! If this murder was personal, what is the connection? We shall see.

 

[al66pine]

BREAKING NEWS: AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE!!!
http://www.krcrtv.com/news/breaking-news/arrest-in-murder-of-burney-man-set-on-fire/279931238

Relieved to see news of arrest. Hoping LE & prosecutor can move quickly to conviction (of guilty party). What a horrible death.

 

[Lilibet]

This article has a photo of Venegas. It is the same Juan Venegas on the FB page posted earlier. This guy has a talented wife, several kids and an apparently upstanding extended family. They must be in shock and devastated as was David Wicks' family. As mentioned in the article, LE is still trying to determine a motive.

https://www.facebook.com/juan.venegas.165?lst=100002857575638:100000844603825:1484904717

This investigation is still on going and active as detectives continue to collect evidence and determine a motive. No further information about the investigation will be released at this time. The public is encouraged to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or at [email protected] if they have information about this investigation. Information can also be provided to Secret Witness of Shasta County at 530-243-2319 or at www.scsecretwitness.com.
BBM

http://eastvalleytimes.com/suspect-identified-arrested-homicide-david-wicks/

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...ould-potentially-face-death-penalty/96854608/

Venegas was initially slated to be arraigned Friday afternoon in the murder of David Wicks... But the criminal case was dropped late that morning from the court calendar and he's now scheduled to be arraigned Monday by Superior Court Judge Cara Beatty.

He remains in Shasta County Jail without bail...

There is still no known motive for the attack and a sheriff's investigative report does not disclose whether Venegas and Wicks might have known each other.

 

[Lilibet]

Juan Venegas is Native American and was once very active in the Pit River Tribe, consisting of eleven autonomous bands. He is in the Ajumawi (Achomawi) band.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_River_Tribe
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achomawi

He was tribal chairperson in 2011-13. Before that in 2010 he was vice-chairman and more recently he was sergant at arms in 2015. I didn't want to assume this is the same Juan Venegas so I did a bit of sleuthing on SM to confirm that he has held positions in the tribe. It appears that he has traveled to Portland OR and Washington DC on behalf of the tribe. I can't post the confirmation from SM of course. I'm still looking for other confirmation. But I feel confident that this is the same Juan Venegas who was arrested for David Wicks' murder. If he is guilty, what caused him to fall so low after serving his tribe so well?

Page 2 lists him as vice-chairperson in 2010.
http://modoccountyca.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=6&ID=4164

In 2010 he represented the Pit River tribe at an environmental conference in SF meeting with EPA officials.
https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpre...92884a7ad4b68bab852577c20056cbc9!OpenDocument

He is quoted as Tribal Chairperson in an article about the shooting of a tribe member by police in 2011.

Tribal leaders aren't talking.
Reached by cellphone this month, Tribal Chairman Juan Venegas said he'd ask members of the tribal council whether they'd be willing to be interviewed, but he said he and they were apprehensive about discussing the matter.
He didn't respond to follow-up messages.

http://archive.redding.com/news/rec...ed-after-shooting-ep-375502897-354670071.html

He is listed as Chairperson in 2011 on this job opening.
http://pitrivertribe.org/attachments/article/42/Roads Coordinator JD.pdf

Also 2011.
http://protectsogoreate.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/resolution_05-24-11.pdf

This document regarding a United Nations resolution lists him as Chairperson in 2012.
http://cdn7.iitc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Resolution-UNDRIP-Pit-River.pdf

He is still listed as Tribal Chairperson on page 8 in 2013.
https://www.hudexchange.info/onecpd/assets/File/California-State-2013-PA-Section-106.pdf

In 2015 he is listed as Sergant at Arms of the Tribal Council.
http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/04-24-15MONTHLYReportPRT.pdf

I believe he may still have been on the tribal council without holding an office quite recently as I'm almost positive he is pictured in this group photo on the home page of the tribe.
http://www.pitrivertribe.org/?limitstart=0

 

[5CentsWorth]

I keep checking back to see if we ever know what the motive could be.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Elley Mae]

Shasta County sheriff’s detectives on Thursday arrested Wicks’ accused killer, Venegas, though they’ve not released a possible motive in the killing.

Venegas remains in custody at Shasta County Jail, where he’s being held without bail. He’ll be arraigned Monday on single count of murder with a special allegation of torture. Venegas could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, though prosecutors have not yet announced whether they’ll seek such a punishment.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...iends-remember-david-wicks-memorial/96884322/

................................

On Dec. 21 a man now believed to be Venegas walked into the Rocky Ledge Shell gas station in Johnson Park wearing rain gear and a black hood .

The attacker sprayed Wicks with a liquid and then set him on fire, according to the Sheriff's Office, adding that the attacker is also shown on video surveillance adding even more of the liquid to Wicks as he's on fire.

The sheriff's investigative report also says the attacker is seen standing in flames on the floor for a second or two before running toward the gas station's front door.

"As the suspect was leaving, his/her right foot was on fire," the report states, later adding that the right leg of the rain suit later recovered appears to be burnt.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...ould-potentially-face-death-penalty/96854608/

He has a long local court record dating back to the mid-1990s, including several property crime convictions, driving under the influence charges, battery and resisting arrest, according to Shasta County electronic court records.

 

[Lilibet]

Sheriff's officials said Thursday that Venegas was arrested at his home on Telecaster Lane in west Redding after he was seen by detectives driving a blue Toyota truck. Detectives served a search warrant and booked him into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of murder.

According to a sheriff's report filed in Superior Court, a detective interviewed Venegas on Dec. 23.
Venegas said he heard about the homicide through Facebook, but refused to provide a DNA sample and eventually left the interview, according to the report.
BBM

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...ould-potentially-face-death-penalty/96854608/

I've seen mention of the blue Toyota truck in more than one article and I wonder why. Is there some signicance to the truck?

What caused LE go interview Venegas two days after the murder? Why did they zero in on him right away? Although LE hasn't said that Wicks and Venegas knew each other, I wonder if Wicks' wife knew of some serious issue between them.

Would there be DNA samples of Venegas because he had a criminal record (are samples take routinely?) or could clever LE offer him something to drink during the interview and have gotten it off the container?

 

[katydid23]

I wonder what the motive could be? One has to be very angry to set someone on fire.

It seems like if these two had a bad history or a beef, someone would know about it. So strange that LE has not heard about it yet.

 

[Elley Mae]

Sheriff's officials said Thursday that Venegas was arrested at his home on Telecaster Lane in west Redding after he was seen by detectives driving a blue Toyota truck. Detectives served a search warrant and booked him into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of murder.

According to a sheriff's report filed in Superior Court, a detective interviewed Venegas on Dec. 23.
Venegas said he heard about the homicide through Facebook, but refused to provide a DNA sample and eventually left the interview, according to the report.
BBM

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...ould-potentially-face-death-penalty/96854608/

I've seen mention of the blue Toyota truck in more than one article and I wonder why. Is there some signicance to the truck?

What caused LE go interview Venegas two days after the murder? Why did they zero in on him right away? Although LE hasn't said that Wicks and Venegas knew each other, I wonder if Wicks' wife knew of some serious issue between them.

Would there be DNA samples of Venegas because he had a criminal record (are samples take routinely?) or could clever LE offer him something to drink during the interview and have gotten it off the container?

Items found during the sheriff's investigation, including rain gear found in Johnson Park, were sent to the California Department of Justice for DNA analysis. The analysis showed the items belonged to Venegas, according to the Sheriff's Office.

http://www.redding.com/story/news/l...ould-potentially-face-death-penalty/96854608/



In the days after the deadly attack, detectives and volunteers conducted searches in the area and collected “several pieces of evidence” in Johnson Park, according to Jackson.

The evidence, he said, was sent to the California Department of Justice’s laboratory to test for DNA.

“As a result of the DNA analysis of different pieces of evidence, a suspect DNA profile was identified as belonging to Juan Manuel Venegas,” Jackson said.


http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...clerk-burned-alive-burney-20170120-story.html



During the investigation several items were found around Johnson Park that Shasta County Sheriff’s Detectives believe were evidence and they were sent to the state Department of Justice Lab. The DNA analysis pointed to 39-year-old Juan Manuel Venegas, a longtime resident of Fall River Mills, Burney and Johnson Park.

http://www.kqms.com/2017/01/20/man-arrested-for-murder-of-burney-man/

I think his dna was on the rain suit, and possibly other items found, maybe the container with the flamable liquid aswell. jmo idk