“Trash Bag” Murder Toll Now 10 – Police Led To 2 Grave Sites

by Riverside (AP)

One of two men charged in connection with the “trash bag murders” has led authorities to two Imperial County locations where bodies were found one and four years ago. Imperial County sheriff’s deputies said Patrick Kearney appeared “pretty calm” during the five-hour search yesterday said Sgt Lon Hettinger of the Imperial County department Kearney, 37, and David Hill, 34, former roommates from Redondo Beach and both avowed homosexuals were scheduled to be arraigned today in Municipal Court on murder charges in the deaths of two men whose bodies were found in Riverside County.

Police had been questioning the two about a total of eight murders during the past two years in four southern California counties, but yesterday’s search brought the total to 10 Police say the men have told them about an additional 33 bodies. All of the bodies were found along highways. Some were shot dismembered or both. Several were found stuffed in plastic trash bags leading detectives to dub the case “the trash bag murders.” Hettinger said the two Imperial County bodies were found in 1973 and 1976 but not previously linked with the “trash bag” slayings. The shallow burial sites were a mile apart about 15 miles east of Calexico near Highway 98.

The search for more bodies was expected to resume today although authorities said Kearney claims he is no longer sure where the remaining grave sites are. Investigators from Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange and Imperial counties have joined in the search. Kearney and Hill were being held in Riverside County Jail in lieu of $500000 cash bail each. Their surrender Friday was one month after warrants were issued by the Riverside County district attorney’s office charging them with two murders”.