Missing man’s bike found near blood stains, CA cops say. Months later, 3 arrests

Family and friends searching for a missing man found his bicycle abandoned near “blood stains and spent bullet casings,” leading to a monthslong homicide investigation, California police say.

Now, three San Jose men have each been arrested on a murder charge in connection with the man’s death, the San Jose Police Department said in an Oct. 10 news release.

McClatchy News is not naming the men as they have not been formally charged.

Officers responded to a missing persons report shortly after 10:30 a.m. June 22, police said.

Friends and family reported a man last seen three days earlier as missing after finding “his bicycle was found abandoned near a creek trail, a short distance from blood stains and spent bullet casings,” police said.

Officers found his disappearance “suspicious in nature” and launched a homicide investigation, according to police.

Days after the man’s bike was found, police said DNA testing confirmed the bloodstains belonged to the missing man, “further indicating foul play was involved,” police said.

Detectives canvassed the area, spoke to witnesses and served search warrants, police said.

In doing so, detectives identified two cars believed to be connected to the missing man’s death, police said.

The cars were near where the man was last seen alive, police said, adding that they also identified the three men as suspects in his killing.

Evidence led detectives to believe the missing man was likely killed, then “buried in the Saratoga Hills area,” according to police.

Police said investigators got arrest warrants for the three men, ages 44, 43 and 41, as well as warrants to search their homes.

Two days after the men’s arrests on Oct. 7, detectives, aided by cadaver dogs from the Santa Clara County Search and Rescue Team, found the remains of a man buried near Saratoga Hills, according to police.

The remains were recovered and turned over to the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and Office of the Medical Examiner, which will confirm the remains’ identity and release the man’s name, police said.

“This case was as complex as it was compelling,” Chief Paul Joseph said in the release. “Our detectives handled it with care, compassion, and relentless determination.”

McClatchy News reached out to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and is awaiting a response on formal charges.

Police ask that anyone with information to contact Detective Sergeant Martinez #3934 or Detective Jize #4324 of the San José Police Department’s Homicide Unit via email: 3934@sanjoseca.gov and/or 4324@sanjoseca.gov or at 408-277-5283.