Suspect in Estancia grad’s killing released as investigation continues
Friends of a former Estancia High School student who was stabbed to death early Saturday say they’re angry that the man arrested in connection with the killing was allowed to walk free this week after prosecutors declined to press charges while the investigation continues.
Santa Ana police said they arrested Nicholas James Tadlock, 22, on Saturday, allegedly after he tried to flee a party where 19-year-old Bryan Alverto Torres had been stabbed multiple times in the upper torso.
The Orange County district attorney’s office, however, decided not to file charges, instead sending the case back to detectives who are now looking for more witnesses, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Tadlock, a Costa Mesa resident, was released from Orange County Jail at about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to Sheriff’s Department records.
Roxi Fyad, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office, said she couldn’t reveal details about why prosecutors decided more investigation was needed.
The decision frustrated Torres’ friends.
“He did wrong,” alleged 21-year-old Anthony Ordorica. “How is that right that he’s out?”
Bertagna said detectives still consider Tadlock the only suspect.
“There’s no reason for them to believe that they don’t have the right suspect,” he said.
Investigators are now trying to persuade more partygoers to step forward and talk with police.
“A lot of people left prior to our getting there, and we know there were additional people there and we know there were additional independent witnesses,” Bertagna said.
Police said Tadlock and Torres were attending a party at a home at 2837 W. Edinger Ave. in Santa Ana when a fight broke out on the driveway.
Police would not say what sparked the fight or how many people were involved, although it was larger than just Torres and Tadlock, according to Bertagna.
Ordorica said he wasn’t at the party but saw video of the fight. He said the altercation started when Torres’ friends were accused of stealing partygoers’ beer.
After a scuffle ended with one person knocked out, Torres was called over and knifed, Ordorica said.
Kristian Aguilar, 20, said he was standing two feet behind Torres when Torres was stabbed.
“I saw my friend and noticed he was gushing out blood,” Aguilar said.
He and others tried to stop the bleeding with their shirts and jackets, but Torres died later at a nearby hospital.
“I don’t know how there’s not enough evidence,” Aguilar said.
According to friends, it was typical for Torres to intervene on behalf of people he cared about.
“If you had a problem or someone was picking on you, he went and handled it for you,” Ordorica said.
According to court records, Tadlock has two previous misdemeanor convictions, one for driving with a suspended license and one for driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded guilty to both in January 2015.
A message left at a phone number listed for Tadlock was not returned.
Torres was a captain on Estancia’s soccer team before he graduated last year.
Soccer coach Robert Castellano said Torres was a loyal friend with an intense passion for the sport.
This year, Torres was attending Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, where he planned to play soccer in his sophomore year, according to Castellano.
Police asked that anyone with information about the stabbing call detectives at (714) 245-8390.
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Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck
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