It's a crime that has a community puzzled. Why kill an innocent woman?
"In my 35 years in law enforcement I have never seen a more calculated murder," said Hanford Chief Carlos Mestas.
It happened here at the first stall at the Royal Car Wash. Denise McVay was found dead Wednesday morning. She was washing her car like she did two times a week.
"Snuck up behind her and ambushed her. He stabbed her multiple times and slit her throat," said Mestas.
Police arrested a 17-year-old norteno gang member.
"This is one of the most callous homicides I've come across. This is quite frankly killing for fun," said Mestas.
What makes this colder is that investigators learned the 17-year-old quote 'just wanted to kill someone.' Investigators say the teenager picked up a friend in Lemoore. Mauricio Ortiz is 18 years old and also a gang member. In McVay's car they drove to Visalia to a mall where they bought shoes and clothes with McVay's money. Jerry Rios is a neighbor. He can't believe it.
"It's very disturbing. You just never know where bad people are at. You have to look out for each other," said Rios.
From the mall they drove to Tachi Palace where they cleaned the car and dropped it off in the parking lot.
"Video surviellance from the parking areas assisted us in identifying the suspects."
A family member picked the two up and drove back to Hanford and then Thursday morning both were arrested in their homes.
"This was for the sake of killing someone," said Mestas.
A fund has been created for Denise McVay. To help with the funeral costs. Flyers have been posted up in Hanford. Now the question is will the 17-year-old be tried as an adult.
"That determination has not been made yet. But after reviewing all the documents we'll have to see what happens with that," said a District Attorney.
TXT 24
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