Venturan Helps to Widen Hunt for Boy’s Killer

While Riverside County investigators continue their investigation into the abduction and murder of 10-year-old Anthony Martinez, a Ventura man has decided to up the ante in the search for the suspect.

Kurt Saindon, who operates Kid ID--an organization that helps locate missing children--is distributing fliers with a sketch of the slaying suspect throughout the county. He hopes that burning the suspect’s image into the minds of area residents will lead to an arrest.

“I wasn’t going to do anything at first, but I don’t want it to slip from the public’s view,” the 34-year-old Ventura resident said. “The only way we’re going to get this killer is if somebody recognizes him.”

Saindon said he will be distributing thousands of fliers to area residents and businesses and will post signs on the sides of area delivery trucks. He has even enlisted the help of the Hells Angels to get the message out.

“My guess is that if this guy sees the Hells Angels posting signs he’s going to run to the nearest police station,” he said.

Although Anthony’s body was found more than 100 miles southeast of Ventura in the dry Berdoo Canyon, Saindon believes the man is moving around.

“No one’s seen him yet, and that makes me believe he’s traveling around,” he said.

Anthony was found dead more than two weeks after his April 4 abduction from an alley near his Beaumont home. Witnesses described the mustachioed suspect as 25 to 35 years old, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, with bright blue eyes. He was driving a white car with red pinstripes and no hubcaps.

Authorities believe the boy was abducted by an experienced, bold and very dangerous predator. Other boys who witnessed the kidnapping said a man tried to lure them with money and asked them to help find his lost kitten. When they ran, he pulled out a knife and grabbed the boy, they said.

“This guy has killed once and he’ll do it again,” Saindon said. “He needs to be caught.”