The trial of Isaac Campbell, a San Gabriel man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend Liya "Jessie" Lu and stuffing her body in a trash can at his friend Michael Darby's home in Arcadia, has begun at Alhambra Superior Court.
Deqiang Song, 26, of Monterey Park, gets life in prison without possibility of parole, for the crime of kidnapping for ransom, and a second sentence of life in prison plus four years, for the attempted murder of his then 21-year-old victim. Song met his victim through a mutual friend and took her to Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. Then he took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County. He strangled the woman and slit her throat. He called her father for ransom. She survived.
A jury convicted DeQiang Song, 24 of Monterey Park, of the kidnapping and attempted murder of a 21-year-old woman, who he knew through a mutual friend, after taking her on a trip to Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. He then took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County and bound her, strangled her, sliced her throat with a knife and left her for dead. She survived. Song asked the victim's father for $10,000 in ransom money. He will be sentenced April 26 in Alhambra Superior Court.
Arcadia Fire Chief Kurt Norwood announces his retirement. He began his career in Arcadia in March, 1987 as a firefighter. His last day will be July 9. See also Mountain Views News, p. 6, June 18, 2016.
Isaac Campbell is on trial for a second time for the murder of his girlfriend Liya "Jessie" Lu, because the trial in 2011 ended with the jury unable to reach a verdict. The prosecutor promises a new witness in this trial. Lu's body was discovered about a month after she disappeared, wrapped in plastic trash bags and left with cat litter in a trash can in Arcadia.
No trial for Deyun Shi in the fatal beating of his two nephews William Lin and Anthony Lin, of Arcadia, and attack on his estranged wife in La Canada Flintridge. He was found mentally incompetent for trial. Instead he will get treatment at Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino.
Jerry Collins Picnic Pavilion dedication ceremony will be held July 19, 2016 at Wilderness Park at 2240 N. Highland Oaks Drive in Arcadia. There is a memorial plaque to commemorate his life. He was a former Director of Parks and Recreation for City of Arcadia. He started his service with City of Arcadia in 1970 and had a 24 year career. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 12, July 21, 2016.
Isaac Campbell, a man charged in the murder of his former girlfriend Liya "Jessie" Lu, appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing and was ordered to return to court July 14. Campbell has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody on $1.2 million bail. Lu's body was found September 2007 at an Arcadia residence. Her body was wrapped in a plastic bag, placed in a blue trash bin and buried under 10 gallons of cat litter.
Man charged with kidnapping, beating ex-girlfriend in Arcadia. Robert Michael Mendez faces one count each of kidnapping and criminal threats and three counts of injuring a girlfriend or child's parent.
War veteran Mike Velarde, 78, of Arcadia, tricked his Spanish-speaking mother into signing the paperwork to enlist in the U.S. Army at age 16. He had served in the Korean War. A photo of Velarde is shown in honor of Memorial Day. He remembers his wartime buddies who did not make it home alive.
Alhambra man Isaac Campbell was sentenced to the maximum of 11 years in prison for killing his girlfriend Liya "Jessie" Lu, 31, of San Gabriel, and then putting her body in a trash can full of kitty litter in the backyard of Campbell's friend in Arcadia.
Two articles recapping Arcadia 44th Annual Invitational. Arcadia High School's Ammar Moussa celebrates victory in the 3,200 meters. He ran the nation's fastest high school time this season, at 8:49.59.
Denny's Restaurant at Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia hosts a monthly "Carcadia" car show. Any car enthusiast is welcome to show his/her car. The event was founded by Scott Hettrick and Glenn Oyoung.
Isaac Campbell, 36, will stand trial next week for a second time for murder of girlfriend Liya "Jessie" Lu, who died in 2007, after a jury in December 2011 was unable to reach a verdict. The hung jury was split 10-2, with 10 in favor of convicting Campbell.
New Arcadia city housing standards approved, new zoning codes effective as law May 20, 2016. Included in Arcadia's new standards is a sliding-scale floor-area ratio (FAR) for the first time in the city's history. The FAR is a development tool that helps determine how large a home can be built on any given lot based on a percentage of the land.
Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army staff sergeant Salvatore Giunta visits Arcadia High School to talk about his experiences in Afghanistan. He is the first living person to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.
Arcadia man Larry Roger Beck, 66 years old, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for killing his girlfriend's toddler son in Louisville, Kentucky 43 years ago. He admitted to shaking the 20-month old Michael Sanders, which was a factor that caused the child's death.
Los Angeles County Sheriffs arrested Jason Macklin Dell, 33, for attempted kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl at Arcadia County Park.
See also Mountain Views News, p. A6, June 29, 2013 which reported suspect was released.
45th Annual Arcadia Invitational track and field event took place at Arcadia High School yesterday. The Arcadia High School girls team of Laura Guidolin, Isabel Annino, Veronica Yamane (photo) and Glyndyll Mancia finished fifth with the ninth fastest time in the nation at 9:22.09 in the 4X800 relay. The Arcadia High School boys team of Ryan Vargas, Francis Lee, Juan DeLaRosa and Tony Moseley ran the nation's fourth fastest time, 7:48.66. Yamane ran her personal best in the 3,200-meter race.