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Filipino linked to 4 murders, shot dead in California


California police shot dead on Tuesday morning (Manila time) a Filipino linked to the deaths of four people, three of them reportedly Filipinos. Associated Press reported that Efren Valdemoro, 38, was killed by members of the California Highway Patrol after a high-speed car chase that ended in a Richmond market. The AP report said Valdemoro was shot after he refused to drop the meat cleaver he was threatening the officers with when they cornered him. Officers found inside Valdemoro’s car the body of 46-year-old Cindy Tran, believed to be his girlfriend, who suffered severe head and neck injuries. Tran was able to call her family earlier to tell them she was kidnapped, the report said. Valdemoro was also the primary suspect in the killing of Ricardo Sales, 73, who was found beaten to death inside his Hercules home last week. Sales’ son, 35-year-old Frederick Sales, remains missing as of posting time. A report in Balitang America described the elder Sales as a Filipino. The AP report said Valdemoro suspected Tran of having an affair with either Ricardo or Frederick Sales, both of whom were renting rooms in the house owned by Tran.


Valdemoro was also the suspect in the killing of two elderly women, Segundina Allen, 63, and Marcaria Smart, 60. Their decomposing bodies were found by Vallejo City investigators in Allen’s home. The two were also described by Balitang America as Filipinos. Allen, reportedly an acquaintance of Valdemoro, had allowed him to stay in her home several times within the past 10 years, according to authorities. She had earlier reported growing fearful of the suspect, who used to show up at their house even after Allen and her husband repeatedly warned him not to. Allen and longtime friend Smart were reported missing last weekend and had not been seen since August 25. Investigators searched Allen’s home after noticing numerous flies there, the AP report said. Allen’s husband, Charles Rittenhouse, 72, who was home when the bodies were discovered, was arrested for possessing explosives and was being questioned regarding the women's deaths, the AP report said. Police have yet to identify a motive for the series of killings, and Valdemoro’s link to the deaths of the two women has yet to be fully established. Joe Smart, 63, whose wife was among the victims, said Allen had grown scared of Valdemoro. He said Allen and Rittenhouse had asked him to change their locks twice in recent weeks to keep Valdemoro out. "This guy would sneak into the house, almost like a ghost," he said, referring to Valdemoro. He said Allen also called him for help a couple weeks ago when Valdemoro showed up at the Allens’ house. He said he drove over, grabbed Valdemoro, and forced him to leave. Valdemoro was a security guard at Bio Rad Lab in Hercules City. Allen’s neighbors attested that Valdemoro had gotten into fights with homeowners and was involved in such incidents such as stealing and causing disturbance in the neighborhood. Police officers have also described him as “unstable." - KBK/JV, GMANews.TV
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