Month: November 2025

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The man accused of aggravated assault and armed robbery had his second court hearing Friday.

18-year-old Anthony Contreras had complaints filed for charges of aggravated assault and armed robbery with a folding knife.

Contreras, along with a 15-year-old boy, were arrested for confronting a 61-year-old man and stealing his bike Wednesday.

Contreras’ court appearance is scheduled for November 21, and his bond is currently set at $500,000.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A detective took the stand this week in the trial of a Yuma man accused of brutally murdering an elderly couple.

20-year-old Romeo Jay Arellano‘s trial continued with a detective on the case who was in the home of the two murdered victims days after they were killed.

The detective shared the smell in the home was overpowering. He said there was also blood on the floor and on other items in the home. 

Certain items in the home were also misplaced or broken. 

Arellano is accused of murdering 82-year-old Manuel Marquez and 79-year-old Patricia Marquez in late April of 2024. 

The prosecution said Manuel was stabbed at least 18 times while Patricia was stabbed at least eight times.

The detective shared that Arellano admitted to driving Manuel’s car after the murder.

Arellano also stated that he knew police had pictures of him at the bank, where he ran multiple transactions using Patricia’s card.

They also shared that following the murder, phone calls and texts were sent to Arellano’s girlfriend and brother.

The prosecution says they found items in Arellano’s possession, tying him to the victim’s murder.

Arellano faces seven felonies, including two counts of premeditated first-degree murder. The maximum sentence he could receive if he’s found guilty is life without parole for each murder.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The man accused of stealing an undisclosed amount of merchandise from a local Zales Jewelers appeared in court this week.

36-year-old Deandre Lamar Wells had his bail lowered from $500,000 to $100,000.

Wells is accused of entering the local Zales Jewelers at the Yuma Palms Mall through a broken door, shattering display cases and leaving the scene with an undisclosed amount of merchandise in August of last year.

Wells is being charged with third-degree burglary, theft control property and criminal damage deface.

He is expected to be back in court next month.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attended the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Saturday morning.

The event took place at West Westlands Park at 9:30 a.m., with the opening ceremony taking place at 9:00 a.m. During the opening ceremony, attendees got the chance to participate in a Zumba class.

The event is to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s, and raise money for research in creating a cure for the disease.

“Yuma County is has the largest prevalence per capita of Alzheimer’s patients,” said Kristen Moore Bennett, Regional Director for the Southwest Arizona Alzheimer’s Association. “If you were to look at a heat map, you would see that there’s a lot more people living with some sort of dementia in Yuma County.”

Yuma City Council member Karen Watts and Arizona State Senator Tim Dunn (R-District 25) served as guest speakers during the event.

The walk was divided into four flowers:

Yellow: Supporting or caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s.

Orange: Supporting the cause and the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision for a world without Alzheimer’s.

Purple: Participating in the walk to honor loved ones taken by the disease.

Blue: Living with Alzheimer’s.

Before the race started, the association presented a white flower, symbolizing the first survivor of Alzheimer’s.

According to Bennett, 350 people participated in the event, and she hoped to have 500 people participate in next year’s event.

The overall donation goal is $60,000, and the association raised $42,903 so far. If you missed out on the event and still would like to donate, click here.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals participated in the very first Turkey Trot 5K Run hosted by the City of Yuma and Onvida Health.

The event is a way for community members to stay active and celebrate the season. 

The route started at Onvida Health Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, and went past Yuma’s newest and first ever interactive mural sponsored by Onvida Health.

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could get all of our families in Yuma to get out and start exercising and moving together in this great time of weather in Yuma,” said Machele Headington, Vice President of Communications at Onvida Health.

“It’s a nice time to see each other, you know were often so busy, and this is the time of year that Yuma’s weather is beautiful, we can all get out here today and you know share in collective wellness,” said Carol Smith with the City of Yuma.

The first 250 people to finish the race received a medal.

However, those who did not want to keep the medal could chose to donate it to a cancer patient with a note they would receive when they have finished their treatment.

If anyone missed out this run, the City of Yuma will host a run as part of their series next month. To learn more about it, click here.

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Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two women were in a crash in Yuma, according to Yuma Police Department (YPD).

On November 12, at about 1:59 p.m., officers were called about a crash in the area of Eighth Street and Magnolia Avenue, near Kiwanis Park.

Police say an 18-year-old woman was driving a Hyundai Elantra eastbound on Eighth Street and tried to make a left-hand turn onto Magnolia Avenue.

A 42-year-old woman in an Infiniti G37 traveling westbound on Eighth Street then crashed into the Elantra.

Both women were taken to Onvida Health, but the 42-year-old was later flown to a Phoenix hospital due to serious injuries.

Police say speed appears to be a factor in the crash.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call YPD at (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME.

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Marcos Icahuate

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County says there has been an increase in a scam.

The scam involves a person claiming they work for the County and ask for a service fee.

Imperial County staff email address will end in @co.imperial.ca.us and suspicious invoices should not be answered immediately.

Anyone who receives suspicious scam emails can contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center or call their local police department.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Community Foundation of Yuma hosted a luncheon at the Yuma Golf and Country Club to honor local individuals and organizations whose philanthropic work has made a significant impact on the community.

The event highlighted Yuma’s reputation for generosity and celebrated those who continue to strengthen the region through service and giving.

“Yuma is known for standing up and giving back to the community. We’re one of the most generous communities in Arizona, and everyone who showed up at this luncheon today is a true testament to that,” said Veronica Shorr, Regional Director of the Arizona Community Foundation of Yuma.

Attendees represented a wide range of philanthropic efforts, contributing collectively to hundreds of thousands of dollars in local support.

Shorr noted that this year’s honorees were selected specifically for their strong commitment to community philanthropy.

“This year ,we did things a little differently,” she said. “Our honorees this year are really heavily focused on philanthropy and the work that they do in the community,” she said.

Awards presented included Philanthropist of the Year and the Spirit of Service Award. Danny Bryant of First Bank Yuma was named Philanthropist of the Year for the second time.

“It’s also rewarding to see what a group of people committed to making a community stronger can do, and the accomplishments that we can achieve together,” Bryant said.

City Councilmember Arturo Morales Jr. received the Spirit of Service Award.

“We don’t do it for acknowledgment,” Morales said. “I have to admit, it’s a beautiful moment. I’m completely honored.”

The luncheon served as a tribute to the individuals and groups whose dedication continues to uplift the Yuma community.

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