Parole granted for man serving life in prison for 1986 murder
A man sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for shooting a man to death in 1986 was granted parole on April 3, according to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.
Robert Gruner, now 60, pleaded guilty to murder, according to the DA. On Jan. 29, 1986, Gruner and two others were in the area of Chester Avenue and L Street to purchase drugs, according to the DA.
The three found Rick Patterson, 25, walking down the street when Gruner jumped out of the car he was in with a rifle. He yelled at Patterson for money or drugs and when Patterson said he did not have anything, Gruner shot Patterson in the chest. Patterson died at the scene, according to the DA.
Later that day, Gruner fled in his car when officers located him. Gruner accelerated toward an officer who jumped out of the way of the car when Gruner fled, according to the DA.
He led officers on a highspeed car chase and eventually lost control of his car and crashed at Hughes Lane and Wilson Road and ran away. Officers found a baby boy on the floor of Gruner’s car after the baby was not safely fastened into his seat, according to the DA.
Officers arrested Gruner after he was found by officers, according to the DA. On April 3, the Parole Board determined that Gruner is no longer a risk to public safety and granted parole.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department is
asking for the community’s help in finding the suspect in a case where a woman was stabbed to death and her body was found on fire on the side of Highway 99.
Karla Terron was found on the side of southbound Highway 99 near the Hosking Road off-ramp around 5 a.m. Dec. 17, 2022. She was last seen at a bar in the 100 block of North Hagar Street in the city of San Fernando, according to the LASD.
Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the suspect can call the LASD’s Homicide Bureau at 323-8905500 or can call “Crime Stoppers” anonymously at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
The Bakersfield Police Department is looking for a
man suspected of stealing a Chase Bank employee’s phone in the 1500 block of 17th Street on April 1.
Police describe the man as white, in his 20s or early 30s, about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and 220 pounds with short brown hair. He was seen wearing a gray jacket, blue jeans and black and white Nike shoes, according to the BPD.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective B. Gharib at 661-326-3964 or the BPD at 661-327-7111.