LAKE COUNTY ? The family of a man charged with murder has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person they believe to be the actual perpetrator.
The district attorney charged John Gray with the murder of his friend and roommate, Eric Joaquin, said Kevin Ikuma, Gray”s defense attorney.
Third parties found Joaquin bludgeoned to death Feb. 28 in Gray”s house in Clear Lake Riviera and called 9-1-1, Ikuma said. Lake County Sheriff officers responded and arrested Gray that day.
District Attorney Jon Hopkins is waiting on laboratory evidence results but charged Gray because he thinks he”s dealing with someone “dangerous,” he said.
Circumstances, the crime scene and Joaquin”s body pointed to Gray, Hopkins said.
“You might say brutally or savagely beaten,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins doesn”t think a reward changes who committed the crime, he said.
“I”m sure he”ll want to get out with O.J. and look for the real criminals,” Hopkins said.
If evidence points away from Gray, Hopkins won”t go forward with the case, he said.
Ikuma and an investigator are searching for evidence and witnesses to give to the district attorney to help prove Gray”s innocence, Ikuma said. Ikuma sent a criminal investigator to the crime scene to gather information.
“Several players in actuality were going around committing strong arm robberies. We”re trying to develop information about these players,” Ikuma said. “We have reason to believe they were involved in Eric”s death.”
Hopkins said it”s a “stretch” to draw from the crime scene that a robbery went wrong.
“He might know people who went to Disneyland too, but that doesn”t make him Mickey Mouse,” Hopkins said.
Joaquin was staying at Gray”s house free, so Ikuma doesn”t think the two men had a rent problem, he said.
Gray is being held in Lake County Jail on $500,000 bail, Ikuma said.
Ikuma asks people with information to call Sean Navarro with DNA Private Investigations at 277-0317.
Gray is scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing 9 a.m. Oct. 20 at the Lake County Superior Court at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
