EXCLUSIVE: Sister of valley murder victim talks about suspect’s capture

Kim Molina talked about what she calls her family’s “long wait” for justice, and how she believes, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was Edward Lee Leblanc who killed her sister Kristin.

“Its been tough, you think that these things happen to somebody else,” said Orange County resident Kim Molina while talking about her sister’s shocking and horrific death.

“When it happens to you, you realize that life is short, that life is precious and that you should love the ones you are with, and let them know,” said Molina.

Investigators say Edward Lee Leblanc stabbed Kristin Miner to death, after an argument, on or around Valentine’s Day, 2008.

Leblanc is accused of then taking Miner’s body to the open desert in Sky Valley, burning it, and then burying the remains.

Kristin’s body was found six months later.

“Kris was an extremely caring person. She would have given the shirt off her back for anybody. Anybody that knew her, she would have given her last dollar. She was a great friend and a great sister,” said Molina.

Leblanc was named as a suspect in Miner’s death, after investigators received a tip from an informant.

On the run since 2008, the 38-year-old was captured in Guatemala October 24th, and later brought to Riverside County to face charges.

Molina talked about getting the news that LeBlanc had been arrested.

Well, when I first got the phone call, it was amazing. I was in shock for at least 24 hours, and so pleased with the work the FBI and the investigative team did for our family in never giving up,” said the mother of two.

Estranged from Kristin for five years prior to her death, Molina says she does not know anything about the life her sister was living at the time, and does not know the nature of the relationship Miner had with Leblanc.

But Molina knows her family wants justice.

“I’d like to see him get life plus eight years, eight months and eleven days. That would be my goal,” said Molina, while making a reference to the time Leblanc was on the run, before being arrested.

Molina is currently not allowed to talk about details of the case against Leblanc, but says she’s already looking forward to the end of the trial.

She wants to put her grief, and what she has endured, to good use by counseling and supporting others who’ve also lost loved ones to violent crime.