Forensic experts wrapped up their second day, sifting through the dirt outside a south Bakersfield home, looking for human remains as they try to solve what may be a multiple murder.
Detectives won't say much, other than human remains were discovered behind two separate homes and one man is under arrest. Detectives won't say how the long the remains have been there, who the victims are or if there is more than one body at either home.
Detectives and Coroner investigators spent Wednesday and Thursday digging and sifting through dirt in two Bakersfield backyards.
"All we can say at this point is that we have found what appear to be human remains," said BPD Detective Mike Coronado.
Police say the investigation began Tuesday when someone at a home on Crescent Rock Lane in southwest Bakersfield called detectives. "They made contact with an individual that provided them with information of a possible burial site at 5908 Grass Creek Drive," continued Coronado.
Through the fence at the home on Grass Creek Drive, you could see someone dug a giant hole in the backyard, where officers discovered human remains. Police say officers took 45-year-old Frank Valles into custody for questioning.
"Detectives learned through interviews with Valles and a second individual, that a second possible burial site could be located," explained Coronado.
The second burial site was nine miles away at a home at 218 Curnow Road in south Bakersfield. That is when detectives arrested Valles for first degree murder. Court documents indicate Valles owns both homes where the remains were found.
"Unbelievable, really. I've lived here 30 years probably and not a lot goes on," said Shirlene Gentry.
Shirlene Gentry lives across the street from Valles on Curnow Road. "My grandson saw him digging back there. I think it's been in the last two weeks," continued Gentry.
Gentry said Valles was new to the neighborhood. "I wondered when he moved in because he put up things around the fence and he kept it all padlocked. He told my daughter he had a lot of Indian artifacts and that's why he kept it locked up," she said.
"No trespassing" signs are posted on the locked fence outside the home. "They always had the gates locked. Someone came and digged there. It was a tractor," said Nagarita Ibarra.
Detectives say their investigation is in its early stages. "I don't want to provide too many details that would jeopardize any evidence that we would uncover late," said Coronado.
Valles declined a request from 17 News for a jailhouse interview. He is being held without bail at the Downtown Jail on no bail. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday.
