Court Motion States New Suspect Admited To Being in Murder House During KillingMadera - The Madera County District Attorney's office was on the hot seat Friday morning in a Madera courtroom. Defense attorney's for murder suspects Dustin Gran and Brittney Navarra accused the DA's office and deputy district attorney Edmond Gil of withholding recordings and documents from their clients delaying the setting of a trial date. They also accused the DA of failing to disclose an investigation that might reveal a new suspect in the murder of Krista Pike
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Following an investigation by Big Valley News in July of 2011, a new suspect was uncovered. Instead of publishing the story we reported the information to the Madera Police Department and offered the information to both defense attorney's Steven Geringer for Navarra and John Garvin for Gran. It was requested that we hold off on publishing the story until the information was disclosed in court. We also forwarded the information to the Madera County Assistant District Attorney Miguel Valdovinos who would not comment on the case because of the gag order issued by Superior Court Judge James Oakley.
In September the attorneys for the suspects asked DDA Gill on the court record if the district attorneys office had disclosed all police reports to the defense. On the court record Gil claimed that he had disclosed everything. In Friday's hearing Gil said he was being ambushed with claims of another suspect yet he was able to produce the police reports within fifteen minute of the accusation of misconduct.
The court documents state that Samuel Browning Jr. told two individuals that he was “present at the time and place of the murder of Krista Pike. The interviews were conducted and digitally recorded by Detective Hector Garibay and Officer David Herspring of the Madera Police Department. Just a few days after the interview Officer Herspring returned for more information concerning names and addresses which he stated were for his report.
According to Geringer, Browning was the first person at the scene of the murder and spoke with police officers as they arrived at the home of Pike's boyfriend Thomas Hollier, where Pike's body was found. Following the reveal of Mr. Browning's name, Stacey Pike, mother of the murder victim, told reporters that Browning had allegedly tried to rape one of her family members prior to the murder.Gil said in court that the investigation was based on rumors from a nefarious and untrustworthy reporter however the deputy district attorney refused to answer any questions following the hearing about this new suspect or if charges would be brought against Browning.
With the discloser of this new suspect and the lack of any physical evidence against Gran or Navarra it is unknown if the district attorney's office will be dropping their charges against the two suspects who have been in custody for nearly four years.
Browning was also interviewed by the Madera Police Department and a district attorney investigator, but has not been arrested or taken into custody.