California Couple Arrested For Allegedly Killing Woman, Kidnapping Her 3 Children

A California couple, wanted in connection with murdering a woman and kidnapping her three children, were arrested on Thursday in Colorado, police confirm.

CBS Crimesider reports that Joshua Aaron Robertson, 27, and Brittany Humphrey, 22, were caught in Pueblo, Colorado, after being on the run for almost two weeks. The couple were arrested at a local hotel after the Pueblo Police Department discovered them while on a routine patrol check. Although Robertson was described as armed and dangerous due to a previous firearms arrest, neither suspect had a weapon and both were arrested without incident.

Humphrey and an 18-month-toddler were found in the parking lot hotel room, while Robertson was located a few blocks away. The toddler was taken into state care after authorities determined that Robertson was taking care of her. He is not the biological father, despite previous reports. The toddler’s mother, who’s currently in jail, left the girl in Robertson’s care.

Both suspects are charged with killing Humphrey’s half-sister, Kimberly Harvill. She was found on August 14 in an isolated location in the Los Angeles area at a rest stop on Gorman Post Road. She had multiple gunshot wounds and signs of blunt force trauma. Detectives believe they found her within 24 hours from the time she was killed.

Harvill had three children, ages 5, 3, and 2, who were left in a Grants, New Mexico, hotel room, off of Interstate 40, just west of Albuquerque. Robertson and Humphrey allegedly left the kids there with a hotel guest. The couple took off in Harvill’s stolen Expedition and never returned for the children. The hotel guest called the police when they didn’t come back to pick them up.

Harvill and her children were considered transients, spending most of their time in the Fresno area. L.A. Capt. Steve Katz stated on Wednesday that the family stayed in different hotels and would rely on panhandling for daily survival.

The victim, along with both suspects, were allegedly involved in methamphetamine use. Harvill and her children were staying at the suspects’ home in Lebec when she was killed, although it’s still unclear exactly where the murder took place.

According to Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide Lt. Joe Mendoza, there was no known issues between Harvill and the couple, but police became suspicious when they fled town shortly after the murder.

“Due to the fact that immediately after the murder or sometime shortly after, it is suspicious that they did not come forward to law enforcement and instead they fled eastbound towards other states. “

Last year, the three children’s father, Kenneth Chad Watkins, laid down in front of a train and killed himself. The kids are now in the process of being sent back to California, where they will either stay with relatives or go into state care.

Just two days before her murder, Harvill posted a photo on Facebook. She posed with a man and a woman, and although it’s still unclear who the other people are, the male strongly resembles Robertson.

One of Harvill’s Fresno friends remembered her as a loving parent who doted on her kids, and an all-around “wonderful” person.

“She loved her kids more than life. She was a great mom. She was a great wife. She was just altogether just a wonderful, wonderful person that everybody is going to definitely miss a lot.”

Los Angeles officials have already started the extradition process on the couple, with the intent of taking them back to Southern California. The process could take several days, and if they fight extradition, it could possibly be several months before they return to California. For now, both Robertson and Humphrey remain behind bars in Colorado with no bail.

Prior to her capture, Humphrey’s godmother told NBC Los Angeles that she’s “worried sick” and that her goddaughter wouldn’t have murdered Harvill.

“She loved her sister and she loves those babies. The fact that she’s missing is just as concerning as the fact their mother is dead.”

[Photo by Pueblo County Police Department]