SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the availability of four $50,000 rewards for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murders of Alan Schwalbe in Costa Mesa; Gregory Ruffin and Lamontee Stevenson in San Diego; and Victoria Barrios in Santa Ana.
Under California law, law enforcement agencies may ask the Governor to issue rewards in certain unsolved cases where they have exhausted all investigative leads, to encourage individuals with information about the crimes to come forward. Public assistance is vital to law enforcement, and rewards may encourage the public cooperation needed to apprehend those who have committed serious offenses.
Today’s rewards involve the following cases:
Costa Mesa – Alan Schwalbe: Governor Newsom is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Alan Schwalbe. On August 11, 1993, 61-year-old Schwalbe was fatally stabbed in his home in Costa Mesa. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage anyone with information about this murder to contact Investigator Bob Taft with the Department’s Cold Case Detail at 714-647-7055 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov.
San Diego – Gregory Ruffin: Governor Newsom is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Gregory Ruffin. On February 24, 2019, 22-year-old Ruffin was fatally shot near an apartment complex in San Diego. The San Diego Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage anyone with information about this murder to contact Detective Sergeant Geoff DeCesari with the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit at 619-531-2943. For media inquiries, contact Lt. Steve Shebloski at 619-531- 2275. Anonymous tips can be submitted to San Diego County CrimeStoppers at www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
San Diego – Lamontee Stevenson: Governor Newsom is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Lamontee Stevenson. On August 17, 2019, 19-year-old Lamontee Stevenson was fatally shot at a party in San Diego. The San Diego Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage anyone with information about this murder to contact Detective Sergeant Geoff DeCesari with the San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit at 619-531-2943. For media inquiries, contact Lt. Steve Shebloski at 619-531- 2275. Anonymous tips can be submitted to San Diego County CrimeStoppers at www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
Santa Ana – Victoria Barrios: Governor Newsom is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Victoria Barrios. On August 30, 2019, 18-year-old Barrios was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting in Santa Ana. The Santa Ana Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage anyone with information about this murder to contact the Department’s Homicide Detectives at 714-245-8390.
More information on the Governor’s Reward Program can be found here.
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