The suspect in the murder of a man near Twentynine Palms was arrested, and identified by the Sheriff’s Department as staying in a vacation rental near the victim’s property.
On Tuesday night (September 17), at around 7:49 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of an “unknown problem” in the 3300 block of Bluegrass Ave in unincorporated San Bernardino County near Twentynine Palms.
Deputies report finding three members of a family suffering from blunt force trauma from a baseball bat. Hadgu Abraham, 63, later succumbed to the injuries and was pronounced dead. His 61 year-old wife and 31-year old son were taken to a hospital for treatment for their injuries.
Detectives say the baseball bat was recovered at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division-Homicide Detail assumed the investigation and identified the suspect as Derick Laija, a 34 year-old resident of Ontario, CA. The Sheriff’s Department said that Laija and his friend were staying in a short-term rental near Abraham’s home, at which point Laija was believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance, psilocybin mushrooms, and was demonstrating erratic behavior.
The Sheriff’s Department says that Laija entered the Abraham’s property and attempted to steal their vehicle, but when they they confronted him, Laija attacked the the family.
Derick Laija was arrested for investigation into murder and attempted murder, and is being held at the West Valley Detention Center without bail.
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