Latoya Calhoun, a 40-year-old woman from San Jacinto, California, was found dead on April 29, 2017. Initially, her death was reported as a motor vehicle-related incident. Her body was discovered along the side of Esplanade Avenue, and authorities believed she had succumbed to injuries from a vehicle accident. However, further investigation revealed that Calhoun had been shot multiple times. This discovery shifted the case from a vehicular incident to a homicide investigation.
Two men were subsequently arrested and charged in connection with Calhoun's death. Traevon Denae Stewart, 40, of Banning, was charged with murder, kidnapping, attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and witness intimidation. The charges included special circumstances of killing during a robbery. Stewart had a history of prior convictions for assault with a firearm and possession of drugs for sale. Michael Wayne Bird, 62, also of Banning, was charged as an accessory after the fact. Bird had previous convictions for carrying a concealed firearm and possession of a controlled substance.
The investigation revealed that Calhoun owed Stewart an unspecified sum of money, which she was unable to repay. Stewart had threatened to shoot her if she did not settle the debt. On the night of April 28, 2017, Calhoun called her mother, seeking help to leave the area, but her mother was unable to assist due to lack of funds. In the early hours of April 29, Stewart found Calhoun, forced her into his vehicle, and shot her multiple times before dumping her body on Esplanade Avenue. Paramedics arrived shortly after and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Stewart was arrested in Banning two days later, and Bird was taken into custody the following day. Both men were held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. Stewart was held without bail, while Bird's bail was set at $50,000. Stewart was later convicted of first-degree murder and other related charges, and he faced a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Bird pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to two years in county jail. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of unresolved debts and violent threats, leading to a senseless loss of life.
