The Region - News from June 25, 1986

Authorities investigating the murder of retarded man said that four youths picked him up in California, drove him to the Arizona desert and robbed him of $11 at gunpoint before shooting him in the head. Mohave County Sheriff’s Lt. Clark Morrell said the youths, who range in age from 15 to 20, spotted David Levitt, 27, of Kingman, in a Needles convenience store June 6. Morrell said the suspects saw that Levitt was retarded and managed to lure him into their vehicle. He was driven into the desert near Kingman, where he was robbed, stripped naked and shot, Morrell said. The youths returned to Needles, but went back to the scene to make sure Levitt was dead, Morrell said. Levitt’s body was found June 10. The suspects, all from Needles, and all charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery, are Patrick Wheatcraft, 20, his brother, Ronald, 17; Gilbert Valero, 17, and Carrie Burns, 15.