From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On November 16th 2016, personnel assigned to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Garberville Station were contacted by two Investigators from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office. The Investigators were looking for a key witness to a death penalty case that involved the tragic rape, torture, and killing of a three year old child in Tulare County. See here for additional information:

http://abc30.com/news/christopher-cheary-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-3-year-old-sophia-acosta/1632780/

The Tulare County Investigators requested the assistance of HCSO in locating a witness for the death penalty phase of their court case. The Investigators believed their witness lived somewhere in the Southern Humboldt area, but had no other information to go on. Utilizing Confidential Informants, and their intimate knowledge of the area, HCSO Deputies were able to locate the witness within the hour. The Tulare County Investigators were able to transport the witness back to their jurisdiction where the witness testified the next day. It has been determined the testimony of this witness had a direct impact on the judgement for the death penalty phase of their trial.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office has since thanked the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for our assistance. It is our hope that assisting Tulare County has somehow helped bring justice to this horrific tragedy.