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After 60-Mile Chase, California Father, Teen Sons Arrested For Gruesome Murder

By Pam Wright
Published on: 02:41 PST, May 28, 2016

A California father and his teen sons have been arrested after allegedly dumping and burning the body of their neighbor in a trash can last week, reports CBS affiliate KCAL.

The accused were identified Thursday as Highland Park resident Enrique Jimenez Sr., 46, and his two unnamed teenage sons, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said.

Deputies said the 46-year-old father is accused of fatally stabbing his 51-year-old neighbor, Morris Barnes, and then attempting to burn the body in the trash can with the help of his two teenage sons, ages 14 and 17.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a deputy saw the suspects dumping a trash can on May 20.

The officer was patrolling the area near 6th Street and Sterling Avenue at 1:09 a.m. when he spotted three people lighting something on fire, said Lt. Rich Lawhead, spokesman for the San Bernardino Police Department.

When the officer tried to address the trio, the father and two teenagers got in their car and fled, prompting a 60-mile chase on four California freeways.

At one point during the wild pursuit, the teen boys reportedly either jumped from the truck or were dropped off and tried to flee on foot. They were eventually caught, arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of acting as an accessory to murder.

The father allegedly continued to flee but was eventually apprehended by California Highway Patrol units after he crashed into two Downey, California, police cruisers, the sheriff’s department said. The father was taken into custody and booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of murder and felony evading, CHP Officer Tony Polizzi said.

Meanwhile, back at the scene where the father and teen sons were attempting to dispose of the trash can, deputies discovered the partially charred remains of the victim with multiple stab wounds in the trash can.

Deputies say Barnes was killed on Elmwood Road in Highland, California, but they have not revealed a motive in the killing.

Barnes’ sister told KCAL that she has no idea what prompted the killing.

“They socialized, they used to hang out. So I don’t know what went wrong. I don’t know what led to that. I really don’t.”

Neighbors, including one who identified herself as Lupe, said the teen boys never showed any signs of being a threat to the community.

“The kids were good kids. When they went to the store they asked of I needed anything. They would go for me and come back and bring it.”

In a related story, police in Northern California are investigating as a homicide the death of a man found in a trash can earlier this month.

The San Jose Mercury News reported a body was found earlier this month in the 500 block of Bonita Avenue, in San Jose, California.

The San Jose Police Department said in a statement they were waiting for the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile, the father is being held on a $1 million bond. He is described as a 5’6? 200-lb. male with black hair and brown eyes on the Detention Center’s website. He and his teen sons await court proceedings. Jimenez is scheduled to appear in court on June 2.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons/Scott Davidson]

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