Author: KYMA

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Opening statements began Thursday evening for 20-year-old Romeo Jay Arellano‘s trial.

Arellano is accused of murdering 82-year-old Manuel Marquez and 79-year-old Patricia Marquez.

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

Their bodies were found in a closet, and they say they found DNA matching Arellano in different parts of the victim’s home.

They also revealed that when they found Manuel’s stolen truck they found empty shoe boxes and glass cases.

When investigating Arellano’s home they found those items in his possession.

They also found Patricia’s phone on Arellano, and even a video on it of him recording the police investigating the Marquez household.

They say they found blood-stained gloves in the victim’s kitchen, with stains that match injuries police found on Arellano’s hands.

Meanwhile, the defense reminded the jury that, despite whatever they hear, they must be able to believe without a reasonable doubt that Arellano truly committed these crimes.

Arellano faces seven felonies, including two counts of premeditated first-degree murder.

According to court documents, the murders happened five days before the bodies were found on may first. 

Arellano’s other charges include burglary in the second degree, theft of means of transportation, taking the identity of another person and theft of a credit card.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – “Eurydice” will premiere at the Yuma campus theater starting Thursday, October 30, and will run to Friday, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., but will premiere at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

The play is a retelling of the classic tale of Orpheus (played by Dylan Potratz) as told from the perspective of the female lead of the story, Eurydice (played by Brianna Coronado), and takes place in the 1950s.

Assistant Director Julia Castillo, along with the two leads, Potratz and Coronado, were interviewed before the show. Castillo shared what she is most anticipating for audiences to see.

“I’m most excited to see our technical elements. Our techies have worked overtime to make this come to life. I’m very excited for them to see our special set pieces; we have things coming from the sky, we have the use of water,” Castillo shared.

This is also the first play to be overseen by the new theatre professor, Shadow Zimmerman, following Ann Wilkinson’s retirement.

The cast includes Brianna Coronado, Dylan Potratz, Gabriel Muniz, Matthias Rodriguez, Lauren Hall, Jordan Champlin, and Scarlett Wilson.

The play will include a speech honoring an AWC student and active theatre club member who passed away.

All proceeds from opening night will go directly to the Trevor Project.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – With the government shutdown still underway, thousands of people could lose access to food and supplies.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, is a healthcare program.

It currently helps provide food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to approximately 145,000 clients in Arizona.

If a decision is not reached by November 15, these people would lose access to these benefits.

They say this will not only affect their clients, but the grocery stores where their clients use this money.

“If we don’t get additional allocations, not only will families feel it, but our local economy through the grocery stores will also experience challenges,” said Celia Nabor, the Assistant Director for Preventio Services at the Arizona Department of Health Services.

On average, WIC says they give out around $12.5 million a month to their clients.

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Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Exceptional Community Hospital held the event from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

It featured cars decorated for Halloween to give out candy to children and many different companies supporting the event.

Onvida Health brought therapy dogs and a pony for children to see and pet throughout the event.

The hospital’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Brazeel, shares more about what the event is about.

“This is a free truck—trunk or treat, a modified trunk-or-treat, for all the community. It’s absolutely free. We have some great community partners that are here with us tonight,” she explained.

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Andrea Turisk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local high school in Yuma received a grant to help support student inventors.

Harvest Preparatory Academy (HPA) has been selected as one of only eight high schools in the entire nation to receive a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant.

Courtesy: Harvest Preparatory Academy

Courtesy: Harvest Preparatory Academy

The $7,500 grant supports student inventors in designing a solution to reduce E. coli contamination in leafy greens, an issue that has repeatedly impacted Yuma’s agriculture industry, which supplies nearly 90% of the country’s winter leafy greens.

Harvest Prep was the only school selected to receive this grant this year.

Courtesy: Harvest Preparatory Academy

The HPA InvenTeam will spend the school year designing and building a working prototype to help protect consumers, field workers, and growers across the region.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.

HPA MIT Inventeam Press ReleaseDownload

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Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Calexico Recreation Department and the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center is inviting Calexico residents to attend a live chamber music concert featuring Trio Mictlán next week.

According to the City of Calexico, the concert is taking place Tuesday, November 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center, located at 421 Heffernan Avenue.

The city says the concert will feature Trio Mictlán, an ensemble performing captivating works for piano, violin, and cello.

Courtesy: Calexico Recreation Department

Courtesy: Calexico Recreation Department

The concert is free and open to all.

For more information, contact the Cultural Arts Center at culturalarts@calexico.ca.gov or call (760) 357-5575 or (760) 768-2176.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 45-year-old Alfredo Enriquez Flores appeared in court Wednesday to set up a date for a change of plea agreement.

Flores is accused of running over 21-year-old Esteyan Madel on New Year’s Day.

Flores was originally charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

According to official court documents, Flores had admitted to using methamphetamine at 8:00 p.m. and failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Test he was given.

He pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. However, after Judge Roger A. Nelson saw no remorse in Flores, he denied the plea agreement.

Now, Flores is scheduled to be back in court on December 3 with a different judge, and a change of plea.

Despite having to wait another couple of months, Steve Madel Jr., Madel’s father, is sure justice will prevail.

“He hit my son, he killed my son, he took my son away from us. That’s something I will never ever get back ever. We will never see him again, we will never hold him again, we will never give him a kiss or a hug,” Steve says.

He also describes the pain he is in knowing he will not have his son during this upcoming holiday season.

“I’m always used to having my son there. That’s going to be the hard one…one year without our son,” Steve said.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One local fire captain’s retirement is approaching quickly after many years of serving the Yuma community.

Captain Paul Evancho has served with the Yuma Fire Department (YFD) for more than three decades where he has filled many roles.

“Honestly, it’s bittersweet…my heart is definitely here. It’s on the truck. It’s on the street, but I’m kind of old for this position,” says Captain Evancho with YFD.

Evancho started off by joining the YFD reserves program in 1993. Ever since, he has filled many roles during his time as a firefighter including an engineer, fire instructor, captain, and head of the Yuma Child Burn Survivor Foundation.

Evancho says there’s many reasons he loves what he does like the friendships and camaraderie, but helping others is his driving force every day.

“People call 911 at the absolute worst time in their life, something is happening in their life that they can’t control, and they are calling for help, right, why not me,” Evancho stated.

As his retirement rolls around the corner, he gave some advice to his peers at the fire house and anyone wanting to become a firefighter.

“I would tell them to work hard, yea just work hard, keep doing, fight the good fight, you know serve the people, that’s what we do,” says Evancho.

Finally, he would like to say a few words to the community he’s served over the years.

Evancho says, “They’ve supported me tremendously through the Yuma Child Burn Foundation, it’s been a great relationship, I hope that continues, but yea I love Yuma.”

Evancho is set to retire on this Friday, October 31.

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The 22-year-old driver who crashed into a light pole in Yuma over the weekend made his first appearance in court Tuesday.

Yuma police say he was behind the wheel of a Dodge Challenger with three friends, all in their 20’s, when the car slammed into a light pole.

Officers took him into custody and booked him on several charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving, and endangerment.

Right now, no formal complaints have been filed, and he was expected to be released Tuesday afternoon. 

“It was mentioned previously that if no charges were filed at that stage, the court would be compelled to remove the bond, signing a discharge order, releasing the defendant on his own recognizance,” said Judge Gregory Stewart with the Yuma County Superior Court.

Charges could still be filed at a later time.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – There are new developments regarding the mobile home fire in Yuma that happened Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Yuma Fire Department (YFD), the fire happened at a trailer park near 15th Avenue and Third Street at around 2:30 p.m.

Upon arrival, YFD said fire crews found a fully-involved trailer fire threatening nearby structures.

YFD says a propane tank on the property was found as a potential hazard and possibly venting due to heat exposure.

The fire was brought under control and was contained without spreading to nearby structures, but YFD said fire crews remained on scene to ensure the area was safe.

The resident of the trailer, according to YFD, was evaluated by paramedics, but declined to be taken to the hospital.

Press Release Trailer FireDownload

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