Family Road Trip Allegedly Ends with One Cousin Robbing the Other

Humboldt CO. Sheriff Press Release:

On 04-11-2013, approximately 9:10 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a disturbance involving several people near the intersection of Murray Road and Daffodil Rd, McKinleyville. When the deputy arrived in the area he was flagged down by a 37 year old female who told the deputy she and her 45 year old husband were just robbed. The victims were from McArthur, California. She told the deputy they were robbed of cash and personal items.

The victims told the deputy they had traveled to Eureka with the suspects in the suspect’s vehicle. They identified the suspects as Manuel Amoroso, 31 years old and Virginia Mercado, 49 years old from River Mills, California. Mercado is the female victim’s cousin. The victims told the deputy they stayed in Eureka overnight with the suspects at a Eureka Hotel. On 04-11-13 they traveled up to Klamath and on the return trip they all started arguing. During the argument they pulled off the side of the road at Murray Road and Daffodil Rd, McKinleyville. They all exited the White Ford Explorer they were in and continued arguing. Amoroso pushed the male victim to the ground during the argument. When the female victim attempted to call law enforcement on her cell phone, Mercado grabbed her cell phone, put it in her pocket and refused to return it. Amoroso and Mercado got into the Ford Explorer and drove away, leaving the victims behind and taking several of the victim’s possessions with them.

A be-on-the-lookout was broadcast for the vehicle and a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy in Willow Creek spotted the car traveling on SR 299 and stopped it. The victim’s property was in the vehicle and both suspects were arrested for robbery. They were transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where their bail is set at $50,000.00.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Tip Line 707-268-2539.