Two Men Arrested for Murder in Humboldt County
A January 2020 booking photo of Wesley Evans.
Two men were arrested for murder Monday as the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) assisted the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in executing out-of-county warrants in Rio Dell and on Price Creek Road in Ferndale. Key details that are normally part of the public record are not being released including the identity of the murder victim or victims.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department used its armored BearCat vehicle to support Butte County’s operation in arresting Wesley Lavern Evans at 11:22 a.m. on Monday. Then at 2:21 p.m., a Butte County deputy, C. Whitney, took Samuel Terry Ashley into custody where he was also booked for murder. Ashley has a history of prior arrests in Butte County.
This is not the first time Evans has been in custody locally. In January 2020, he was arrested with Wade Harris (since deceased) in connection with a wild theft and pursuit in the Salmon Creek area of Southern Humboldt.
While it is common for law enforcement agencies assisting in an investigation to defer to the lead agency as HCSO has done in this case, Butte County has also declined to release information. Given that two individuals have been arrested for murder, the public normally would learn the basic details regarding the crime.
We requested but did not receive the following information.
- The name and age of the deceased
- The location and date of the homicide
- Whether the arrests are connected to a single homicide or multiple victims
These are fundamental facts that are typically part of the public record and do not compromise an ongoing investigation. However, Butte County authorities have only stated that they will release details “when it’s safe and available.”
UPDATE: Eureka Man Among Two Found Dead in Butte County Burned Vehicle
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Here you go…
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/2-bodies-found-after-vehicle-fire-in-cherokee-butte-county/article_8af38858-df3e-11ef-82fa-af2a3a44c68a.html
Hard to imagine how releasing the basic info requested could compromise the investigation — or be in compliance with the public records act — or if the victims haven’t been identified yet just say so.
Your imagination is quite limited if you can’t imagine the need for confidentiality.
Oh wise one of fertile imagination, please explain how the investigation will be compromised if the following info, requested by RHBB is released:
And from Juan Pablo’s post it looks like the last two are already known.
Could be that the cops suspect more victims are out there and don’t want to alert any other possible suspects? Idk. Hope this is the last time we see this punks ugly mug.
Other possible suspects are going to be alerted already if their cohort is arrested. Maybe family of deceasedhasn’t been reasoned yet? Maybe other possible suspects if they don’t know which murder guy was arrested for will be though alerted not have as much specific info to try and evade investigation/arrest? AND it is better to just give some ideas of potential reasons than to simply criticize one another for wondering/caring or for not caring so thanks for your comment.
Right? Fine ok not being released AND provide some possible reasons for not doing so.
They have been identified it says who they are in Butte County Enterprise the names of 2 young men but you have to have a subscription most likely they’re withholding the information because they don’t want it to f****** the investigation or they don’t want other people to be In Harm’s Way because of who the young men people / family are
Thank you Juan. Get right to it. That’s the way we like it.
How did you find out that this is the incident they were arrested for
Meanwhile… (2019)
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According to an article by John Chiv in November, Wesley Evans had 47 cases in the Humboldt County Court system at the time. A photo of Evans is available there.
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Would be nice to look at the cases and see the er… outcomes.
The Bear Cat seems an appropriate use given who they were hauling out, dead or alive. If other local commenters are to be believed, it seems that anyone associated with the now dead Harris was nothing but problems for everyone.
But it seems the ability of Joe Website Guy (and of course John Chiv) have the right to court proceedings, much to the chagrin of those about to be written about. Chief Justice Kennedy said so.
““Bloggers, Xers, Facebookers, YouTubers, Instagrammers, and Others” Have Right of Access to Court Proceedings,“Sealed arrest records aren’t safe either. News outlets may be prohibited from posting mugshots, but nobody outside of that arena is.
“Court Throws Out Lawsuit Over Journalist’s Publication of Information About Sealed Arrest“
To add, is it me or does RD seem to have it’s fair share of people hauled out of a home for something?
CsMis said:
“News outlets may be prohibited from posting mugshots….”
Actually, news outlets may not be prohibited from posting mugshots — there’s one right here in the story you commented on — Houston v. Maricopa only applies to public agencies — not private news sites.
Well damn, forgive me because I didn’t preface “news” with “public” or “private”. Thought that part could be figured out. I did follow it with “nobody outside of that arena is”. Sorry for the confusion.
I agree, using the Bearcat was wise. They were searching for bad guys with histories of violent crimes. Lots of ARs and AKs around and the LEOs could have been met with serious firepower. Better safe than sorry. I’m glad everyone got to go home and hug their family.
https://www.lencoarmor.com/vehicle/bearcat-g3/
Wow. So 47 opportunities for a judge to slow his roll, force him into rehab or take a time-out and instead of we get a murder. I think we need to start naming these judges- including that judge who let the dog-starver DV POS walk free. We will always have violent criminals. It’s the judge’s job to protect society from them. And judges are very well-paid!! They should do their job or get removed…
Meanwhile they often also rule against innocent folk though less so than LE abuses their powers and citizens.
Judges all crooked und the bar ,
Is there a possibility this was in some way drug related? What is the general consensus?
If I was to guess I’d say 75% of crimes involve drugs in one way or the other.
I was told by the bailiff at a small courthouse in Mendocino county that he estimated around 80% of the people who came through court were there because of something to do with drugs or drinking.
He was a retired CHP, great old guy and I consider his estimate reliable.
Kids, dont do drugs or drink to excess.
Ok and that is like saying their is algae in the water or we’re finding dead salmon and not asking what is going on upstream. Opiates of the masses have been around forever one way or another so what is with the intense use of opiods? Ambition to live in la la land without reprocussions is no doubt part of it AND far more evidence for lots of pain unaddressed due to lack of proactive consistent accessible social supports and mental health care; there are countries that don’t have the same problems with drug abuse though likely our whole species could do a lot better in general with being a prosocial village.
Seems to me that people who have no morals and lack self control get strung out on drugs/ alcohol and commit crimes. As opposed to drugs and alcohol causing the crime. There a few responsible users out there.
YES true AND also many are strung out on drugs and alcohol who suffered from child abuse so extreme most people would turn the page, channel or whatever rather than even hear about it. No matter “Spoiled”, neglected or abused conditions made them that way and it will take counterbalancing conditions to help change people; experiences of self control’s long range benefits when young are given by some families and communities and not by others who may just be too busy working to survive and not had much better childhoods themselves and raising children under conditions in general much different than their own. Back when most everyone had access to homesteading and/or did what their parents did for generations it was easier to base line survive and also raise kids, to give them experiences as teaching vs lectures about mythical abstract “Choices”. People died younger too so pick your preferences. One thing for sure we should be using our extra years to take better care of one another cause our species seems to be committing suicide and addictions to fast “food” and other things are also damaging public health.
Close to 100% involve alcohol
Ok and what percent of alcohol abuse has what factors? A person goes into hospital with a broken leg and questions are asked abotu how it happened but with mental health it has been in dark ages longer cause it is more complex and scary but we best get busy asking more questions about causal factors and proactively addressing them cause our streets, prisons, schools, parks are filling up with broken folks.
Can’t speculate
Sure we can, based on the bazillion similar arrests over the years. I’ll speculate that the speculation is not only in the ballpark, it’s within the infield.
I would put money on that. And I don’t even gamble….
Have they ever caught the person who murdered Wade Harris? Wasnt Mr Harris a well loved member of the community? I would think there would be a big effort to find and punish whoever committed this dastardly deed.
I did a quick search on RHBB’s site for “Wade Harris”; it appears that the poor man was a victim of Humboldt’s overzealous criminal justice system. If you know what I mean? They must had in for him.
Yes, Wade Harris just needed understanding and another chance. If the poor, misunderstood fellow had been given a hug and one more chance, he would have straightened up, atoned for his misdeeds and compensated all those from whom hed stolen and had wronged.
The cops no who killed Wade they let him or them walk scott free. Some bullshit just because the cops didn’t like wade
Wade Harris was a POS and got everything he deserved!! He almost killed my family and hundreds of others – WAKE UP!! Everyone was after him, he finally got caught!!!
He was murdered! The redheaded black belt made him seem like a horrible person. Wade was a thief but how many thieves do you know on death row?
He was found shot dead on property not his own. https://kymkemp.com/2020/08/17/hcso-identifies-wade-harris-as-the-man-found-shot-dead-on-old-harris-road-in-southeastern-humboldt/ No charges were ever filed in the case. Presumably there was either not enough evidence or there was a self defense case.
I’ll remain neutral on that. But I didn’t make Wade seem like a horrible person. I just reported on what he did.
Earlier Incidents Involving Wade Harris:
Wade Harris tried to kill my wife and children. The police did nothing. I’m glad someone finally took him out .
Neil, I was being facetious with my comment. I`m glad your wife and children survived and thankful Mr. Harris is dead.
My comment was tongue-in-cheek. I was curious about WH, so I did the search. I am chocked with the “catch & release” system he was served.
If all I read is true, I am not sorry he is gone.
The catch-and-release system does nobody any good. If he had been imprisoned for a reasonable amount of time he would be forced to sober up. Often this is the only time a druggie sees sobriety. For some- not all of course- it is an opportunity for the realization they are screwing up their life. And then some-not all- recover, rehab and do better. Example) David Crosby thanked the cops who busted him in Texas for saving his life… Releasing them immediately keeps this possibility from them. Wade may have done better with serving some time but we will never know…because our justice system is seriously flawed
Hopefully prop 36 sentencing guidelines will prevent these career criminals from reoffending.
And instead of a growing prison industrial profit system maybe we can evolve to more rehabilitative and proactive processes like Denmark and some other Countries who yes still have to lock some people up for life and they do not promote torture while also condoning it systemically and they have a far lower crime and recidivism rates. Our child mortality rate and kids languishing in foster system etc are criminal and breeding more antisocial types.
So because Mr Harris obviously was a criminal a murderer walks free to do it again? What kind of county is this. Two wrongs make a right? Anyone can commit cold blooded murder and that’s okay but rob pot and you deserve to die? Sickens me. You people who laugh at cold blooded murder are just as bad as Mr Harris if not worse. Let the man rest
I have never forgotten Wade’s mother’s words, “Again, I am truly sorry for all of you who have been negatively affected by my son Wade’s actions. He has been buried and wrapped lovingly and I tucked him in, covering him with soil. May he rest in peace and be remembered by the good he has done.”
Kym, would be great if you could write a story on how that ended. Ive always thought it was odd that there was not further investigation into Wade’s death. Why did the DA not pursue charges on the assailant? How and why did they deem it self defense? etc
Kym- In your spare time of course lol! If you ever do then please include some of the good he did also. People are complicated- rarely all evil or all good. His mother’s words are excellent in telling this…Thank you for posting them
Almost up vote your comment cause yes lots of hypocrisy and violence promoting tantrum comments about violent tantrums ; though can’t go as far as saying the messed up folks laughing about a murder are equivalent to murderers slippery slope though that it is.
It’s funny how well know it is that the local police and sheriffs can let one murderer go because they didn’t care for wade but in the same since think that just because some one who more then likely made wes a fall guy to some one else’s crime due to his history of there own grudges and lack of being able to Handle their own problems due to the man parts that they seem to be lacking .To have the police led on a lie or a make believe story some snitch or informants that have their own agenda in mind so as to lead the cops off the real trail of who’s really to blame probably had something to do with the victims own people he or she were close to
Invisible Man Syndrome Is Rampant
Thought those took place at the crack of dawn not at 12 o’clock.
Probably hoping the dude would go off so they could settle it once and for all.
Can’t wit till DOGE looks at money wasted on inmates with life sentences. If family wants to pay the bill for keeping them alive ok but if not. Dig a hole.
We could do much better as a country and a species at prevent such folks from becoming so antisocial if we had more prosocial systemic supports. Keep only locking up and killing wrong doers but the wrong doers are nonetheless filling up streets and parks and morgues and more young people per capita are killing themselves etc. etc. so in essence we have big problems in general and our species, both science and religion agree, is killing itself.
The 9th circle of hell….