Screenshot from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office/DA press conference.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Kevin Ray James, of San Bernardino, has been charged with the 1997 murder of Monica Leech during a bank robbery.
On the morning of April 28, 1997, two male subjects entered the Western Financial Bank and committed a robbery.
Four bank employees were working inside the bank at the time of the robbery. Three of the employees, including Leech, were forced into the vault room. They were then forced to unlock the vault and open the bank safe.
At some point during the robbery, Leech and another employee were handcuffed by one of the suspects. Then, one of the bank robbers shot Leech in the back of the head, killing her. After the gunshot was fired, both bank robbers exited the bank and fled the area in an SUV the bank robbers left the bank with just over $11,000 in cash.
“Monica Leach was taken from the bank floor to the bank vault, forced to go on her knees and shot in the back of the head at close range,” said Nazarenko. “This was a senseless, unprovoked and vicious murder.”
Investigators from the sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau and the FBI responded to the scene, and investigated the case diligently and relentlessly for many years. But, there was not enough evidence at that time to bring the suspect to justice and the case eventually went cold.
In March 2021, investigators from the Sheriff's Cold Case unit reopened the case and conducted further investigation. The FBI also offered a $30,000 reward for anyone with information that may assist in the investigation.
During the renewed investigation, detectives obtained further evidence due to advances in DNA testing that made it possible to reevaluate. Subsequent laboratory re-analysis then linked Kevin James to Leech’s murder.
“Due to advances in DNA technology, specifically the ability to amplify and isolate DNA, we were able to go ahead and link crime scene evidence to Mr. James. His DNA was on file in California already,” said Nazarenko.
James was a gang member at the time of the robbery.
“Now, after nearly 26 years, the man who was alleged to have committed it has been arrested apprehended and charged with first-degree murder in the commission of a robbery,” said Nazarenko.
In 1997, two men entered Western Financial Bank. As of now, only one has been arrested. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public's help to bring the second perpetrator to justice.