City Won’t Offer Reward in Slaying

The City Council has turned down a request by the mother of a slain teenager to establish a reward for information leading to the arrest of her son’s killers.

Council members on Tuesday also set a policy to offer rewards only if the police chief finds them necessary to solve homicides.

“It pains me to hear your decision,” Bobbi Gorena, whose 16-year-old son, Troy, was stabbed to death in March, told the council. “I’m very hurt.”

Gorena said she was told by police detectives working on her son’s case that a reward would serve as an incentive for witnesses to step forward.

However, Police Chief Patrick E. McKinley said Troy Gorena’s case is under investigation and that a reward presently is not necessary. He said that he believes detectives are close to solving the case.

“There are grave consequences to rewards,” McKinley said, adding that rewards for information sometimes produce false testimony.

Police said that Troy Gorena was attacked by two men who called him over to the corner of Baker and Richman avenues and stabbed him repeatedly.

Councilman Peter Godfrey told Gorena that perhaps the money she’s been raising for a reward could be used later if police decide they cannot find the killers.

So far, Gorena has raised $500. Contributions can be sent to the Troy Gorena Reward Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 2560 B. North Perris Blvd., Perris, CA 92571.