Juveniles face charges for murder of a Jerome man

GOODING, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Two teenagers faced a judge in Gooding County on Thursday, accused of killing a man and burying his body in a shallow grave.

“There was a destruction of evidence charge for one of the individuals because he did tell us that he went back and mutilated the corpse,” says Gooding County Prosecutor Trevor Misseldine.

The prosecutor asked a judge to charge 15-year-old Rolan Delacruz and 17-year-old Alexander Garcia for murder in the first degree for the death of Dax Richins.

“They were charged as adults because it’s an automatic waiver into adult court for things like murder one, so they’ve been charged with murder one,” says Misseldine.

Along Bob Barton Highway near Wendell, a few feet past the barriers blocking off the Snake River Canyon is where Dax Richins remains were found by authorities back in September. According to court documents, Richins also received death threats right before he went missing in June.

“A guy outside with his rifle along the canyon found a skull sitting on the canyon rim, called us out there and detectives were able to find a grave,” says Gooding County Sheriff Sean Gough.

Court documents also reveal that Richins was beat and stabbed multiple times.

“It’s an unfortunate case, these three gentlemen were friends, that somehow turned into an argument and one of them ended up dead,” says Gough.

According to law enforcement, the suspects gave statements admitting to killing Richins. KMVT spoke with Delcruzes’ father who says he doesn’t believe his son would do this and claims authorities interviewed his son without a parent or lawyer present.

“The authorities they pulled him out of the school and my son was requesting to have one of the teachers to phone his mother or i and they refused. in my heart i feel like he doesn’t have a hate bone in his body,” says Patrick Delcruz.

The prosecutor says more charges may be introduced, but they are not seeking the death penalty because the suspects are juveniles. Both are being held without bond and are due back in court in January.

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