On March 21, 1989 Herbert Santos was found deceased off of Stoddard Wells Road near Victorville. An autopsy confirmed Santos died from multiple stab wounds. Investigators discovered Santos’ vehicle was missing and later located on the 101 freeway, near West Hollywood. Blood and fingerprint evidence were collected during the initial investigation in 1989, however, no suspects were identified.
In October 2011, the Sheriff’s Cold Case team reviewed the investigation and re-submitted the evidence for analysis. Sheriff’s Cal-ID Division reviewed the latent prints and were able to identify the prints as belonging to Christopher Anthony Solis and Ruben Abad. Blood evidence was also analyzed by the Sheriff’s Scientific Investigation’s Division utilizing funds provided through a federal “Department of Justice Solving Cold Cases with DNA” grant.
On May 23, 2012 Ruben Abad was interviewed and arrested in Bakersfield, CA, for the murder of Herbert Santos. On May 25, 2012 the District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Abad. There is no indication the victim and suspect knew each other prior to the murder.
On November 30, 2012, Anthony Christopher Solis was interviewed at Chino Institute for Men. Solis is currently serving multiple life sentences for an unrelated homicide. Criminal charges are pending against Solis.
On January 2, 2013, a preliminary hearing was conducted for Ruben Abad in Department V-8 of the Victorville Court in front of Judge Harris. Judge Harris found sufficient evidence for Ruben Abad to be held to answer for the purposes of preliminary hearing and dates for jury trial will be set at subsequent court hearings.
- #1-RUBEN ABAD, 47 YEARS OLD (24 YEARS OLD IN 1989), FROM SANTA MARIA
- #2- ANTHONY CHRISTOPHER SOLIS, 45 YEARS OLD (22 YEARS OLD IN 1989), FROM LOMPOC, CA
The Sheriff’s Homicide Detail Cold Case team is funded in part through a $500,000 grant award from the U.S Department of Justice for “Solving Cold Cases with DNA.”
Refer: Sergeant John Gaffney, Detective Ryan Ford or Detective Scott Cannon
Station: Specialized Investigations Division / Homicide Detail – Cold Case Team
Phone No. (909) 387-3589
Case No. DR# 89020085-17 H# 1989-026
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