Cimarron Bernard Bell – California Serial Killer
Cimarron Bernard Bell is an American convicted serial killer responsible for four murders in Los Angeles County, California, during two separate episodes between November 2003 and January 2004. His victims were his 22-year-old girlfriend, Ineka Edmondson, followed approximately two and a half months later by three men who were lured to Bell's South Whittier residence through what prosecutors described as a fraudulent automobile sale. Financial motives played a central role in both crimes.
Bell, born April 7, 1974, was 29 years old when the murders occurred. The killings were ultimately connected to him after a woman close to Bell provided investigators with information about statements he had made concerning the deaths. Bell was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances in 2011 and sentenced to death.
The Murder of Ineka Edmondson
Bell's first confirmed victim was 22-year-old Ineka Edmondson of Compton, California, a woman with whom he had been romantically involved. According to prosecutors, Bell and Edmondson were also associated through a stolen-check and check-cashing operation. Problems developed within the scheme after one of the participants was arrested and checking accounts connected with the operation were frozen.
Prosecutors said Bell became convinced that Edmondson was responsible for what had happened and suspected that she was taking money from accounts for herself. Evidence presented during Bell's trial indicated that his distrust of Edmondson escalated until he decided to kill her.
On November 11, 2003, Edmondson was shot three times in the head at close range. Her black Toyota Corolla was subsequently found in a largely industrial section of La Habra, California, with Edmondson's body inside. She had died from the gunshot wounds. At the time of the discovery, investigators did not yet have enough evidence to identify Bell publicly as her killer.
The Edmondson homicide would later become important when another woman in Bell's life spoke with investigators. According to trial testimony, Bell had discussed Edmondson's killing and had even taken the woman to the location associated with the homicide. That information eventually helped investigators connect Bell to a murder that initially appeared separate from the triple homicide that followed.
The Automobile Sale Plot
By January 2004, Bell was attempting to obtain money through another scheme. He advertised his customized 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for sale at an unusually low price. Prosecutors maintained that Bell never genuinely intended to sell the vehicle. Instead, the advertisement was designed to attract someone who would arrive with enough cash to purchase it, allowing Bell to rob and kill the prospective buyer.
Mario Larios, 23, responded to the offer. Larios was associated with National Fence in Santa Fe Springs and was interested in buying Bell's Monte Carlo. Rather than going to meet Bell alone, Larios was accompanied by two other men: Edgar Valles, 22, and Fernando Pina, 25.
Telephone records and later testimony helped establish the events leading up to the killings. On January 26, Bell arranged to meet with the prospective buyer. The following day, January 27, 2004, Larios, Valles and Pina met Bell regarding the vehicle. The men were traveling in a white Mercedes-Benz.
Bell reportedly met the men away from his residence before convincing them to follow him to his home in the South Whittier area. Prosecutors argued that the change in location was deliberate. Bell did not want the financial transaction to occur in a public place where witnesses might be present.
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