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Go to ElMonteExaminer.com for ElMonte Specific News M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 26 - N O V E M B E R 1, 2020
V O L U M E 9, N O. 43
Suspect Arrested in 1996 Malibu Homicide of Boyle Heights Girl, Extradited from Texas After almost a quartercentury, the man suspected of killing a 17-year-old girl was identified and slated to face arraignment. On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Homicide Bureau detective, Lieutenant Hugo Reynaga, discussed the circumstances surrounding the young girl's death, how they located the suspect and how he was brought back to face justice. On Tuesday, January 30, 1996, the partially-clothed body of Gladys Arellano was discovered at the bottom of a ravine in the Topanga Canyon area of Malibu. The last time she was last seen was three days earlier at her Boyle Heights home, and she was reported missing by her family one day before her body was found. The results of an autopsy concluded the teen was sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled to death. Serology evidence was collected from her body, and a DNA profile was uploaded into state
Gladys Arellano | Courtesy photo
and federal DNA databases as that of an unknown offender. Although an extensive investigation was conducted, no match was identified through the DNA databases, and the case remained unsolved. On Sunday, November
10, 2019, virtually two and a half decades later, a man named Jose Luis Garcia, was arrested by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)Mission Division personnel for a domestic assault charge. A DNA sample was collected from him during
the booking procedure and uploaded into the state DNA database. In December, 2019, detectives assigned to the Homicide Bureau-Unsolved Case Unit received an alert on the DNA collected during the LAPD-Mission Division jail booking, which returned as a match to the evidence collected in the Gladys Arellano homicide investigation. Detectives Joe Purcell and Shaun McCarthy contacted Garcia at his home in Fontana and asked about his knowledge of the Arellano murder; Garcia was 19 years old when it happened. They obtained a DNA sample from Garcia for comparison and submitted it for forensic testing. Serologists analyzed it and determined Garcia's sample matched the unidentified donor's sample obtained in 1996 from the body of Gladys Arellano. After the detectives' visit, and as the new DNA
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Riverside County Sheriff's Department Loses Deputy Riverside SO has announced the death of 48-year-old Sergeant Harry Cohen, most recently assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau – K-9 Unit. Sergeant Cohen passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2020, after suffering a heart attack while on-duty. He began his service with the Department on Septem-
ber 30, 1996. As a deputy, he worked assignments at the Banning Station, Lake Elsinore Station, and Southwest Station. In 2003, he promoted to corporal within the Southwest Station where he worked until his promotion to sergeant in 2010. Sergeant Cohen then worked assignments at the Perris Station, Moreno Valley Station,
Ben Clark Training Center, PSEC, Special Enforcement Bureau, and K-9 Unit. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter. A husband, father, best friend and deputy: he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. The Department extends their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Sergeant Harry Cohen.
Sergeant Harry Cohen | Courtesy photo
It’s Time to Review Your Medicare Coverage BY SEEMA VERNA
M
edicare’s annual Open Enrollment season is underway, and I want to encourage all people with Medicare to review their current health and prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plan premiums have fallen to historic lows, dropping an average of 34% over the last three years. Many plans are offering a new insulin benefit that limits the maximum cost to $35 for a 30-day supply. By shopping around, you may be able to save money and find a plan that better meets your needs. Open Enrollment runs through December 7 each year. This is the time when you can change your Medicare health or drug coverage for the following year. You can switch to Original Medicare, or join or change a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan. Any new coverage you select takes effect January 1, 2021. Our updated Medicare Plan Finder can help you compare the prices and benefits of Medicare Advantage plans, Original Medicare, Medicare drug plans, and Medigap policies. This mobile-friendly tool works on smart phones, tablets, and desktop computers. For beneficiaries who have created an account, we’ve personalized Plan Finder to generate a personal drug history so that prescription information will be auto-populated from personal Medicare claims history with accurate brand, dosage, and frequency information. But anyone can browse options without creating an account. Many Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advan-
Seema Verna | Courtesy photo
tage plans that include drug coverage are participating in a new insulin savings initiative. These plans now offer 30 days of insulin for $35 or less – an average savings of $446-per-year on out-ofpocket costs. To find a plan with lower-cost insulin, look for “Insulin Savings” on Medicare Plan Finder. There are important differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Here’s a brief summary: With Original Medicare, you can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. In most cases, you don’t need a referral to see a specialist. For services covered under Medicare Part B, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after you meet your deductible. You also pay a monthly premium for Part B. If you choose to join a Part D drug plan, you’ll pay an additional monthly premium. There’s no yearly limit on what you pay out-ofpocket, unless you have supplemental coverage, such as Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap. Medigap can
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