Strong isn't only suspect in La Mesa killings
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
Published on: November 29, 2007 - 4:17PM
 YPD Sgt. Ron Rodriguez speaks during a press conference Thursday at police headquarters on the naming of a suspect in the La Mesa Street killing. Seen to his left is YPD spokesman Clint Norred and Chief Robby Robinson (right). SUN PHOTO BY BENJAMIN HAGER |
A Yuma Police Department detective made a public plea for any information regarding a suspect in both the November homicide of a Yuma physician, the 2005 La Mesa Street murders and numerous fraud cases.
"These investigations are still ongoing," said Sgt. Ronald Rodriguez, a lead detective on the cases, during a news conference Thursday afternoon at YPD. "We are asking the public for assistance."
Rodriguez announced that detectives are asking anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of 41-year-old Preston Alton Strong on Nov. 1 to contact YPD and speak to detectives working on the case.
On Wednesday night, YPD officially named Strong a suspect in the Nov. 1 slaying of Dr. Satinder Gill and the June 24, 2005, La Mesa Street killings. So Rodriguez also asked for anyone who may have information on either of those homicides to talk to detectives.
"We definitely consider him a suspect. He has been at the top of our list. We want to speak with you whether you think your information is important or not."
Rodriguez stated that police have been able to track Strong's movements before and after the Gill killing, but his whereabouts during the slaying are still unknown. Strong was driving a black 2003 Lexus RX300 SUV with dealer stickers in the window.
Since Strong is also a suspect in numerous fraud cases, Rodriguez asked that anyone who has had any type of monetary dealings with him to contact detectives.
"Strong has been the focus of several fraud case investigations in the past," Rodriguez said. "We believe there are other potential fraud victims."
Strong, who is currently in custody in the Yuma County Adult Detention Center on unrelated charges, was arrested Nov. 2, the morning after the Gill slaying. He has since been sentenced to 3 -1/2 years in prison for theft.
Gill was found strangled in his home at 4596 W. La Quinta Loop, and a large sum of money was stolen. Detectives also believe Gill was forced to make several phone calls to different individuals during the time up to his death.
"We believe it happened over a several-hour period," Rodriguez explained.
According to a news release issued by police late Wednesday night, Strong was allegedly jealous of Gill because Gill showed interest in a mutual female acquaintance and that Strong caused damage to the doctor's car back in July or August.
Despite Strong's being named a suspect in both homicides, YPD spokesman Clint Norred said, police aren't ready to file charges against him.
"People out there know things," Norred said. "We are hoping, given the information we have released, that more people come forward."
Rodriguez also explained that there are common links to the La Mesa murders and the Gill slaying, specifically that both cases involved money, that victims in both cases were forced to make phone calls that were out of the ordinary for them and some of the victims were killed by asphyxiation.
He added that Strong was one of over 200 possible suspects that emerged during the course of the two-year investigation into the La Mesa murders and that there is potential physical evidence linking him to the crime scene. YPD, however, is still waiting for lab results.
The sergeant went on to say that police still believe more then one person was involved in the La Mesa murders, and YPD's investigation into the case is still ongoing.
"We have always said there was more than one suspect."
Rodriguez specifically asked for any leads relating to the two unidentified men captured on RC Liquor's surveillance camera the day of the 2005 murders and the police sketch of an individual seen by a witness leaving the crime scene.
Another common link is Strong was very good friends with Luis Rios, who was murdered on June 24, 2005, along with Adrianne Heredia, Enrique Bedoya 13, Andreas Crawford, 12, Inez Newman, 9, and Danny Heredia, 6, and that his whereabouts at the time of those killings are not known either.
During a news conference held in June about the La Mesa murders, it was mentioned that two subjects close to Luis Rios were not cooperating with detectives. Rodriguez, during Thursday's news conference, confirmed that Strong was one of those subjects.
He would not confirm, however, if Strong was the individual that Rios was said to have been involved in an argument with prior to the murders.
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