Category: kyma-local-news

Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (5:38 PM): Spadt’s bond has been set for $1 million.

UPDATE (4:35 PM): The missing teen who was found dead back in June of this year has been identified as 15-year-old Diana Walle.

Walle’s family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs and related expenses.

Courtesy: GoFundMe

“The financial burden of arranging a proper farewell is overwhelming, and we want to ensure that my daughter is remembered with the dignity and respect she deserves,” said Crystal Walle, Walle’s mother who organized the GoFundMe. “Any support will help us focus on healing and being there for each other, rather than worrying about the costs.”

If anyone would like to donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

UPDATE (3:16 PM): The man arrested in connection to a missing teen’s murder has been identified as 52-year-old Mark Alan Spadt of Yuma.

PR-2026-42-Suspicious-Death-Update-2Download

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) said a man has been arrested in connection to a missing teen’s murder.

Back in June of this year, YCSO received reports of a body found in the area of Adams Avenue and Tera Lane at around 10:10 a.m.

The victim was identified as a 15-year-old girl from San Luis, Arizona, who was previously reported missing, YCSO said.

During the early stages of the investigation, YCSO identified a 53-year-old man from Yuma as a person of interest.

16 days after the body was found, the man was arrested on drug charges.

After an extensive investigation and collecting evidence, they identified him as the suspect.

The man was arrested before 10 a.m. Thursday, in the area of S. Avenue 12E and W. 36th Place, about three miles from where the girl’s body was found, YCSO said. The U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Border Patrol helped YCSO in the arrest.

YCSO also said the man was booked into the Yuma County Detention Center for first-degree murder, two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, custodial interference and evidence tampering.

The investigation is still ongoing, and YCSO said details regarding the teen’s death, and her identity, are “not being released.”

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at 928-783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man who pleaded guilty to sexual assault appeared in court Thursday to be sentenced.

39-year-old Ricardo Meza will spend more than five years behind bars after accepting a plea agreement last week.

The case involved a woman over the age of 60.

He was arrested in February of this year, and was originally facing sexual assault and burglary charges.

As part of the plea agreement, Meza will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – After years of delays, the trial of a former Yuma doctor accused of sexually abusing several of his patients is now officially set.

39-year-old Edsel Sandoval‘s trial will begin April 6, 2027, and will go until May 7, 2027.

Sandoval pleaded not guilty to seven counts of sexual abuse and sexual assault.

The Yuma Police Department arrested Sandoval back in February of 2024 after an almost year-long investigation into allegations that he sexually abused several of his patients.

Eight women have since come forward with allegations against Sandoval, with the alleged abuse dating back to April of 2022.

Sandoval previously worked as a family medicine physician at Yuma Regional Medical Center. He left the hospital in July of 2023.

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Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – It’s that time of year again: Mosquito season, and with it comes the viruses mosquitoes can carry, including West Nile virus.

Peak mosquito season in Arizona happens during the hot, humid summer months, from July through September, and already we’re seeing some West Nile activity.

At least three mosquito pools in Yuma County have tested positive for the West Nile virus this year.

While there are no confirmed human cases in Yuma, the CDC has confirmed more than 70 human cases across the state. Last year, the Yuma County Public Health Services District confirmed one laboratory-verified human case.

“It’s pretty common. We find it every year. Typically, depending on the year and the rains, we may find more one year and less the next. This year is a pretty typical year for West Nile virus, but we’re only halfway through the season,” said Richard Cuming, vector control program supervisor with YCPHSD.

According to the CDC, there are more than 3,000 different types of mosquitoes worldwide. Mosquitoes become infected with germs, such as viruses and parasites, when they bite infected people and animals, and even a few infected mosquitoes can start an outbreak in a community.

“West Nile virus is actually the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the United States. Mosquitoes are called vectors because they can transmit diseases from one animal to another. West Nile virus not only affects humans, but it also impacts horses and dogs,” said Laura Rosenwald, entomologist with the National Pest Management Association.

According to the State of California, Imperial County also had one mosquito pool test positive last year, but no laboratory-verified human cases.

Last month, Imperial County reported three mosquito pool testing positive for the virus.

The CDC says mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on the planet, killing more people than any other creature in the world, but there are ways to protect yourself from the virus.

“If you notice mosquitoes, give us a call and we will set traps and do an investigation to try to find out where they’re breeding. To protect yourself, wear long sleeves, long pants, light-colored clothing, and use an EPA-approved insect repellent,” Cuming said.

As mosquito season continues, it’s important to stay alert.

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Dillon Fuhrman

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) says they are “experiencing scattered power outages in several areas” Wednesday.

In a post to Facebook, the areas include Calexico, Heber and Holtville, and said the outage is related to the “storm moving through the region.”

IID said crews are responding and inspecting the damage, and will “begin repairs as soon as conditions allow them to safely do so.”

“All IID directors are being kept informed and updated as conditions develop,” IID said.

In the meantime, IID is reminding residents to following these rule during an outage:

Stay away from downed power lines and always treat them as energized.

Use flashlights instead of candles when possible.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to help preserve food.

Unplug sensitive electronics to help protect them when power is restored.

Never operate generators indoors or in enclosed spaces.

Video captured and posted to Facebook by Elizabeth Samaniego shows a transformer in Calexico being blown out due to the storm.

News 11 will keep you updated on this developing story.

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Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Multiple bridges across Imperial County remain under a state of emergency due to compromised integrity.

Local officials are aggressively pursuing an $8.5 million grant through the federal Bridge Investment Program to fund major replacements and repairs.

The structural crisis is heavily impacting the community, causing restricted farming routes, delayed school bus commutes, and dangerous traffic detours.

Meloland Road Bridge: This 85-year-old wooden pole bridge crosses a major drain and is actively sinking due to the increasing weight of modern heavy farming equipment. Past repairs failed, meaning the structure must be pulled out. The county plans to replace it using concrete culverts and dirt fill, though this requires ongoing coordination with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) to prevent water flow interference and clear environmental issues.

Drew Road Bridge: This wooden pole bridge spans the New River and has forced local drivers into massive 12-to-14-mile detours just to get around it. The county is trying to secure approval from the State of California to encase the existing poles with concrete, allowing them to repair the bridge in place and quickly reopen the route.

Picacho Road Bridge: A century-old structure that was closed over a year ago due to extreme safety factors. A simple repair is out of the question for this vital regional connector. It requires a complete replacement.

While the state ultimately decides how to prioritize requests and distribute the federal funds, Imperial County is not waiting around. County crews are already digging up easement records and clearing environmental hurdles ahead of time.

“We’re trying to do all the groundwork before we ever get the funding so if we can get that done while we’re waiting then we’re ready to go,” says Imperial County District 5 Supervisor John Hawk. “The actual bridge building wouldn’t take more than probably four tofive months.”

The prolonged bridge closures have forced local travelers onto poorly maintained back roads, raising serious safety alarms.

“And they’re not safe. I see so many accidents almost happen all the time,” said Imperial Valley resident Elizabeth Franks.

Other locals are pushing for help but worry that the rural region will be ignored by decision-makers in Sacramento.

“Yeah, they’re pretty bad. It’s not like when I was a kid. I guess there’s not much we can do about it,” said Imperial Valley native Stephen Teague regarding the detour routes.

When asked about the likelihood of securing the multi-million dollar grant, Teague expressed doubt saying, “I don’t think they will. We’re not big enough. We don’t have that many people or voting power.”

A number of local agencies have written official letters to the state, urging them to prioritize Imperial County’s proposal due to the severe economic and safety impacts on the community.

“We’ve accomplished a lot, but we have a lot to go, and you can’t do it all in a couple of weeks,” Supervisor Hawk noted. “It takes an ongoing process and the road crews are very disciplined and they’re organized, so we’re happy to see that and I think we’re making good progress.”

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Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) has named longtime Yuma resident Lisa Ball as the new Regional Director for its Yuma office.

Ball brings years of leadership experience to the role, including 14 years with Special Olympics Arizona.

She says her decision to take on the position comes from wanting to give back to the community.

“At some point, you just realize it’s not about yourself anymore,” Ball said. “They’ve embraced us. And I think it’s time to give back.”

ACF supports local nonprofits and manages more than $30 million in charitable funds for Yuma.

Ball says one of her priorities will be listening to the community and helping connect donors with the areas where support is needed most.

She says she hopes to see a lasting impact from her work over the next five years.

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Jessamyn Dodd

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The candidate pool for Calexico City Council is quickly filling up with another name added to the mix.

Blanca Morales has qualified for the November election, with her sights set on a council seat.

Morales has a background in healthcare and business, and wants to see a revitalization of the downtown area.

“The biggest issue that I see is just starting with the simple things such as the streets, the sidewalks that is a huge liability with the city and it has been, has not been worked on consistently,” Morales explained.

She said she would like to see more businesses investing in Calexico rather than moving to other cities in the Imperial Valley.

“Downtown business improvement. The merchants and how we can work with our new border and having those conversations at the federal level,” she said.

As of now, there are eight qualified candidates for two open seats in Calexico.

The midterm election is Tuesday, November 3.

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Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma native says she is being forced out of her home after her Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits were cut, leaving her unable to keep up with rent.

Dana Clark and her dog, Diesel, now have just four days to pack up and leave the home they have lived in since 2019.

Clark says she has received SSDI benefits since 2009 after suffering head injuries in a motorcycle accident.

According to Clark, her benefits were cut after the Social Security Administration (SSA) determined she had been overpaid.

She believes the overpayment determination stemmed from earning just over the allowable amount while participating in the SSA’s Ticket to Work program, which helps disability beneficiaries transition into employment.

“Unfortunately you know your rent doesn’t wait… so for the first couple of months I sold everything…like I sold my dad’s truck,” Clark said. “So I did I made up…I made my payments and then I got some help here and there.”

Clark says losing her monthly disability benefits has made it impossible to afford her housing, ultimately leading to her eviction.

“They failed me. They epically failed me. I lost…I lost my house,” Clark said. “I was evicted yesterday.”

As she prepares to leave her home, Clark says she still struggles to understand what happened.

“It’s hard to admit that you didn’t understand what was going on,” Clark said. “I didn’t realize what they were telling me. And now, I’m still going to lose my house.”

The SSA’s Ticket to Work program allows many SSDI recipients to pursue employment while receiving work supports.

However, beneficiaries remain subject to SSDI work and earnings rules, and in some cases SSA may determine that benefits were overpaid if a recipient is found to have received payments they were not entitled to.

News 11 reached out to the Social Security Administration to learn more about its benefit and overpayment processes, as well as Clark’s concerns.

As of this publication, the agency had not responded to our request for comment.

You can help support Clark here.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA Ariz. (KYMA) – As the Cyclospora outbreak continues, health officials are reminding people in Yuma County to take precautions when handling and eating fresh produce.

Local resident Victor Preciavo says he is being careful about the types of lettuce he purchases.

“I try to stay away from lettuce especially if it’s cut lettuce,” Preciavo said. “Especially not if it’s processed form, in the bag, I’ll stay away from that.”

Preciavo also says washing produce is an important part of keeping his family safe.

“You definitely have to wash all vegetables,” he said. “You just can’t eat it off the counter where it’s at.”

Ryan Butcher with the Yuma County Health District says Cyclospora is not always routinely tested for, meaning reported cases may not represent every infection.

“Cyclosporiasis is something we don’t typically test for unless it’s in severe cases,” Butcher said. “Even though the number is really small, it’s just something that we want to be aware of.”

The Health District says the risk remains low, but recommends washing fruits and vegetables and practicing good hand hygiene.

“The risk remains low, but as always, follow good hygiene practice,” Butcher said. “Wash your fruits and vegetables. Wash your hands anytime you use the restroom and typically that is going to be enough to keep you safe.”

Health officials say symptoms can last for weeks, and anyone experiencing prolonged symptoms should contact their primary care provider.

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