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March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


[KHTS] – Homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man who is suspected to have overdosed on heroin, while to others were arrested in connection with the death and the theft of the victim’s property.

Kahlil Banks, 42, of Canyon Country was found dead in his apartment on the 28000 block of Sarabande Lane in Santa Clarita, officials said Friday.

Tommy Loaiza

Tommy Loaiza

Deputies arrested Tommy Loaiza, 38, of Canyon Country, after they allegedly found him in Banks’ car the following day. It was reported stolen on May 26, after Banks was found dead.

Banks was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel.

Deputies recovered an illegal substance and drug paraphernalia from the location. The deputies also discovered the victim’s vehicle was missing.

Later that day, Santa Clarita deputies received an LA Crime Stoppers tip naming a man involved with the death of the victim and stealing the victim’s vehicle.

Loaiza was arrested for driving the victim’s vehicle Wednesday, and a murder charge was later added to a grand theft auto charge.

Loaiza is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Matthew Pontecorvo, 24, was arrested on suspicion of stealing the victim’s dirt bike.

 

 

LASD Homicide Dets Seeking the Public’s Help in Locating, Recovering Victim’s Personal Property

 

Detectives are asking for the public's help to locate the victim's stolen bike.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate the victim’s stolen bike.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau detectives are seeking the public’s help in locating and recovering victim Banks’ personal property.

During the investigation into the narcotics related death investigation of Victim Banks, Homicide detectives learned several items were taken from the victim’s garage.  Among the items stolen were a 50-inch flat screen television, “Toshiba” laptop, a “GoPro” camera, and “Xbox” console controllers, a small television (unknown brand or color), a digital camera (unknown brand or color), and a red and white 2007 “Honda” CRF150R dirt bike with the number plate “12” on the side. The actual dirt bike is depicted in the attached photograph.

Homicides detectives discovered Suspect Loaiza along with an additional suspect, 24-year-old Matthew Pontecorvo, entered the victim’s residence while he was deceased and stole the items.

Suspect Pontecorvo stole the dirt bike.  On Thursday, May 28, he was arrested and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Matthew Pontecorvo

Matthew Pontecorvo

Suspect Loaiza is depicted in the attached photograph wearing a red shirt.

Suspect Pontecorvo is depicted in the attached photograph wearing a gray tank-top.

Anyone with information leading to locating and recovery the victim’s stolen property, please contact Homicide Detective Antoinette Martinez at (562) 631-5920.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

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38 Comments

  1. Another sad story :( RIP

  2. Lori Reilly Lori Reilly says:

    Wow.. seems like a lot of people are getting killed.. so sad! What has this world come to?

  3. Ray Smith Ray Smith says:

    If he died of a drug overdose, how is the other man being charged with murder?

  4. JoAnn Faris says:

    Over the past 6 months, it has really gotten scary here in Canyon Country and the SCV..Too much violent crime and robberies…It’s a shame since I love living up here but it does make me reconsider staying.

  5. Mikey May Mikey May says:

    Jimmy, you think this was the dude in the Minivan?

  6. I have a video on this

  7. Dar Jones Dar Jones says:

    Minivan? Video? Curious…..

  8. how are they getting Tommy for murder?? They should only be going down for GTA, and nobody knows maybe the guy lend him the car before he died, if anything they should get in for driving without owners consent!!

  9. jerlo says:

    there is absolutely no excuse to try and make sense of all this tragedy that went down…looks like the work of the devil so with that being said I will pray that all families involved find peace and healing..so sad that this went down…remembering how the suspect as a young kid coming to live with me and my family for a while and tried my best to teach him to live and let live and to have respect for all but you just don’t know how a person will decide to take one path or another,nephew,my heart is feeling heavy for all involved..i will pray for all….unk jerlo

  10. Jay says:

    Tommy better hope he never gets out of jail… And his family better watch where they go

  11. Alicia says:

    Regardless of how this happened, Kahlil didn’t deserve to lose hiss life. My heart goes out to his two beautiful children who will now have to grow up in his absence. I pray that justice prevails and that his family can begin to heal from this terrible tragedy.

    • LC says:

      Kahlil didn’t deserve to be left for dead… Regardless of his drug use issues, he was a very good father and such a kind hearted person. And to take his stuff while he’s laying there unresponsive was not cool. It’s really sad what drugs are doing to our family n friends.

  12. Jaycay says:

    Hmmm wonder if Matthew worries for his mom Traci

Leave a Comment


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