SAN DIEGO – Homicide detectives have arrested two people and are working to extradite a third in connection with three slayings that occurred in 2005 and 2007.
Michael Mason, 32, is awaiting extradition from a Nevada prison, where he has been held since 2007 on an unrelated parole violation, San Diego homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.
Detectives announced yesterday that they have arrested two others on suspicion of being accessories to murder.
The first homicide occurred Nov. 25, 2005, when several masked, armed robbers forced their way into a home in Valencia Park and tied up five victims, beating them for more than seven hours, police said.
The assailants demanded money that they believed was at the house. The ordeal ended when they forced Sacha Newbern, 25, and Mecio McGhee, 30, into a bathtub, doused them with gasoline and shot them at close range, police said.
The three other hostages escaped.
On July 14, 2007, Tim Traaen, 30, and his girlfriend were walking to their car in North Park after leaving a bar when a gunman approached, demanding money.
The robber shot both of them, killing Traaen and wounding his girlfriend, before running away, police said.
Evidence eventually tied Mason to both cases.
Mason was the subject of an intense manhunt last year for his possible role in the 2005 slayings and was featured on “America's Most Wanted” before his arrest in Las Vegas.
“It's been a long time coming,” said Newbern's father, Carl Davis, who is now raising Newbern's three sons. “It feels so good to start to get some closure and to be able to put this whole thing behind us.”
Yesterday, Jessica Jones, 24, was arrested at her Lemon Grove home in connection with Traaen's slaying. On Wednesday, Tamoyia Morris, 31, was arrested in connection with the McGhee-Newbern homicides.
Both have been booked on suspicion of being an accessory to murder and participating in a criminal street gang.
Michael Mason, 32, is awaiting extradition from a Nevada prison, where he has been held since 2007 on an unrelated parole violation, San Diego homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney said.
Detectives announced yesterday that they have arrested two others on suspicion of being accessories to murder.
The first homicide occurred Nov. 25, 2005, when several masked, armed robbers forced their way into a home in Valencia Park and tied up five victims, beating them for more than seven hours, police said.
The assailants demanded money that they believed was at the house. The ordeal ended when they forced Sacha Newbern, 25, and Mecio McGhee, 30, into a bathtub, doused them with gasoline and shot them at close range, police said.
The three other hostages escaped.
On July 14, 2007, Tim Traaen, 30, and his girlfriend were walking to their car in North Park after leaving a bar when a gunman approached, demanding money.
The robber shot both of them, killing Traaen and wounding his girlfriend, before running away, police said.
Evidence eventually tied Mason to both cases.
Mason was the subject of an intense manhunt last year for his possible role in the 2005 slayings and was featured on “America's Most Wanted” before his arrest in Las Vegas.
“It's been a long time coming,” said Newbern's father, Carl Davis, who is now raising Newbern's three sons. “It feels so good to start to get some closure and to be able to put this whole thing behind us.”
Yesterday, Jessica Jones, 24, was arrested at her Lemon Grove home in connection with Traaen's slaying. On Wednesday, Tamoyia Morris, 31, was arrested in connection with the McGhee-Newbern homicides.
Both have been booked on suspicion of being an accessory to murder and participating in a criminal street gang.
