Downtown Produce Market Murder Suspects Identified NR10572df

Murder Suspects Arrested

UPDATE:    

Over the last 48 hours, Newton Homicide Detectives have investigated numerous leads garnered by the news media coverage about the death of Mr. White.

Today Newton Homicide Detectives with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal Services Fugitive Task Force unit, followed information received from news generated tips to the Hollywood area, where both Garcia’s were seen.  After several hours of investigation and surveillance, both Garcia’s were taken into custody without incident at a vacant building located on the 1600 block of La Brea.

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD), Newton Area detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating two suspects who may be responsible for a homicide in a downtown produce market area.

On November 29, 2010, at about 9:30 a.m., LAPD Newton Area patrol officers
responded to a radio call of a possible dead body in a hotel room located at 800 E. 7th Street.  Once at the location, officers found the dismembered remains of an unknown person in the room.

Newton Homicide detectives determined the remains to be of a male African American, later identified 49-year-old Herbert Tracy White of Hollywood.

As detectives conducted the investigation, they discovered that the suspects attempted to clean up the scene and remove the body prior to leaving the location. Several body parts were inside of a backpack with the remainder of White’s remains wrapped in blankets.

Detectives later identified the suspects as 36-year-old Edward Garcia Jr. and his wife, 25-year-old Melissa Hope Garcia. Both suspects are from Pennsylvania and believed to be in the Hollywood area or heading back to Pennsylvania.

On December 6, 2010, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for both Edward and Melissa Garcia, charging them with one count of murder.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department Newton Homicide Detectives Arciniega or Benavides at 323-846-6556.During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.