FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
February 10, 2009 Deputy U.S. Marshal Jon Frank
USMS Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (714) 412-8584;
USMS Headquarters Public Affairs (202) 307-9065
SUSPECTED GRANDMOTHER KILLER ADDED TO U.S. MARSHALS
15 MOST WANTED FUGITIVE LIST
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Marshals announced today the addition of Joseph Elias George Ettima to the service’s 15 Most Wanted fugitive list. Ettima is wanted in California in connection with the murder of his grandmother. Along with the homicide charge, he is also wanted for robbery, arson, child endangerment and parole violation.
Ettima, who was recently paroled from prison, is accused of allegedly killing his 69-year-old grandmother, Emma Hardwick-Street, on Jan. 19. Authorities in Los Alamitos believe he set fire to her body and house to cover up the crime, before he fled the area. This crime is particularly heinous in that two young children were in the home at the time of the murder.
One day after the murder, the Los Alamitos Police Department requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.
“Ettima has demonstrated a proclivity for violence for many years; these latest crimes reveal his complete disregard for human life. Capturing him is one of our highest priorities,” said Director John F. Clark of the U.S. Marshals Service. “We will use all available resources to bring this violent criminal to justice.”
Ettima has an extensive criminal history that includes robbery, weapons possession, manufacturing of weapons, battery and indecent exposure. The California Department of Corrections deemed Ettima mentally incompetent.
“Joseph Ettima has shown a complete disregard for the rule of law and human life,” said Thomas Hession Chief Inspector of the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. “Bringing Ettima in to face these charges is the top priority of this task force.”
Investigators believe Ettima may have fled to Mexico and received a reported sighting of him in Tijuana on Jan. 20. He is known to wear African or Cuban style clothing and speaks Spanish, Swahili and Caribbean languages. He has used several aliases in the past including Jamal Harris, Yusuf Ettima, Yusef Ettima, Yusuf Eligha and Cuba.
Ettima is a 25-year-old black male, 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 155 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He has scars on his abdomen and left forearm.
A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading directly to Ettima’s arrest. Ettima has a long history of violence with weapons. If you have information about Joseph Elias George Ettima’s whereabouts, immediately contact your nearest U.S. Marshals office or call the Marshals 24-hour hotline at 1-800-336-0102.
The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. For more information on U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted fugitives and Major Cases, go to www.usmarshals.gov.
See Wanted Poster for Joseph Elias George Ettima
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