Reedley, California – A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murders of four neighbors in a small town located southwest of Fresno. The teenager not identified by police have appeared for his first court appearance on Thursday and entered a plea of not guilty in the juvenile equivalent. Prosecutors are seeking to try him as an adult, which could result in a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The victims, who lived next door to the suspect, were identified as Billy Bond, 81, his son Darrell Bond, 61, Darrell’s wife Guadalupe “Kiki” Bond, 44, and their son Matthew Bond, 43. The bodies of Billy, Darrell, and Guadalupe were discovered in the backyard of their home on Saturday. Matthew’s body was found in a detached garage at the suspect’s residence on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of the teenager.
Details surrounding the motive or the method of the killings have not been released by the police. However, authorities have mentioned that a safe inside the victims’ home, containing guns and money, had been forced open and emptied. The suspect’s relatives, including his mother, have also been charged with being accessories after the fact and have been released on bond.
The suspect, who cannot be identified publicly due to his age, will remain in custody. If he is convicted of the four murder charges, he will be held in juvenile hall until he turns 25. Prosecutors are aiming to have him tried as an adult, which would lead to a potential life sentence without parole.