Crime in the Coachella Valley: The Biggest Headlines of 2025

COACHELL VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - As 2025 comes to a close, News Channel 3 is taking a look back at the crimes that shocked, saddened, and reshaped communities across the Coachella Valley.

From a deadly terrorist attack in Palm Springs to the heartbreaking death of a baby whose disappearance gripped the nation, this year marked a shift in how crime impacted local families and how law enforcement responded.

Terrorist Attack in Palm Springs

The biggest crime story of the year unfolded on May 17, when a vehicle packed with homemade explosives detonated outside the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs.

The blast, heard across the valley, killed the suspect, 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus, and injured four others. Investigators say Bartkus was motivated by anti-natalist beliefs.

Federal authorities later confirmed Bartkus acted intentionally.
An alleged supplier of the chemicals used in the bombing was arrested but later died in federal custody. The FBI says the terrorism investigation remains ongoing.

“This is good guys one, bad guys zero,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Missing Baby Case Ends with Confession

The disappearance of 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro became one of the most disturbing cases of the year.

His parents initially reported him kidnapped from a parking lot in Yucaipa, triggering a nationwide search. Months of investigation followed as a memorial grew outside the family’s Cabazon home and online sleuths descended on the area.

The case took a shocking turn when Emmanuel’s father, Jake Haro, confessed. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Emmanuel’s body has still not been found.

His mother, Rebecca Haro, is awaiting trial and is accused of a pattern of abuse.

13-Year-Old Killed in Cathedral City Drive-By

One of the most brutal crimes of 2025 happened in Cathedral City.

Thirteen-year-old Alan Martinez was shot and killed in a drive-by while standing with friends in his neighborhood.

Two suspects — James Ian Carter, 19, and Christian Arturo Milward Ildefonso, 18 years old pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and gang enhancement charges. They are scheduled to return to court on January 28.

Valley-wide Homicide Numbers

Across the Coachella Valley, 20 homicides were recorded in 2025 two more than the year before.

• Palm Springs: 2 homicides (down from 5 in 2024)
• Desert Hot Springs: 2 (down from 3)
• Cathedral City: 2 (up from 0)
• Indio: 6, plus one additional case under investigation (up from 1)
• Coachella (Riverside County Sheriff areas): 4 (down from 6)

Other unincorporated areas, including Mecca, Cabazon, and county land near Coachella, accounted for the remaining cases.

Fentanyl and the Deaths of Children

The fentanyl crisis continued to impact the valley — including its youngest residents.

In Desert Hot Springs, two-year-old Nova Morreo died after accidental fentanyl exposure. Her mother, Crystal Monique Ward, and her boyfriend, Israel Contreras, were charged with felony child endangerment.

Nova was one of two children under the age of four in the city to die from fentanyl exposure in 2025.

“It’s a tragedy when anybody passes away,” said Detective Sgt. Cory Carranza. “It’s even worse when it’s a child and it’s 100 percent preventable.”

Countywide, fentanyl deaths dropped in 2024 to 328, down from 543 the year before. Final numbers for 2025 have not yet been compiled, but investigators warn the danger remains high.

High-Profile Arrests and Verdicts

Several long-running and high-profile cases reached major milestones in 2025:

• Adam Slater, a Palm Desert father, was sentenced to death for the 2020 murder of his one-year-old daughter, Madalyn. Prosecutors called the verdict long overdue.
• Local CEO William “Billy” Rodrigues was charged with murder and hit-and-run in a deadly crash. He was released on $2 million bail and awaits trial.
• Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez pleaded not guilty to felony conflict-of-interest and perjury charges, which could bar him from public office if convicted.
• Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet pleaded guilty to bribery, conspiracy, and perjury, ending a decades-long political scandal. He was sentenced to probation and fines.
• Developer John Wessman was found not guilty on all counts, closing a long-running City Hall corruption case.

A Case 15 Years in the Making

The year also brought closure to one of Palm Springs’ oldest murder cases.

The final defendant in the killing of Clifford Lambert was sentenced to life in prison, more than 15 years after the crime.