Parents Arrested in Missing Teens Case

Hemet (myFOXla.com) - Human remains found in the backyard of a Hemet home are believed to be those of one of two missing teenagers, police said today, and the mother and stepfather of the other teen were arrested for allegedly being accessories to the boy's killing.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued for the remaining missing teen, 17-year-old Jose Campos, who is wanted in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Adrian Rios. Authorities said they believe Adrian was shot once with a .22-caliber gun, then his body burned in a large bonfire.

Campos' stepfather and mother -- Jose and Maria Seym -- were arrested late Thursday in connection with the investigation, which started when police found a severed foot and burned clothing at the home at 1440 Bluejay Way, according to Hemet police Capt. Tony Margis.

Since then, another foot has been found, as well as bone fragments, Margis said. He said other parts of the body were likely disposed of elsewhere.

The Seyms are not believed to have been at the home when the boy was killed.

"Right now, the parents are being held as accessories, so their role would be regarding their activities after the homicide," Margis said.

Campos, Rios and 17-year-old Felicia Sharpe were all initially reported missing last month, having last been seen at the home Nov. 15. Neighbors said there was a bonfire with a foul stench at the home that night.

Sharpe, who turned up soon after the the investigation began and was questioned and released, has since gone missing again. She is wanted as an accessory to the murder, as is Rene Lopez-Fregozo, 21, of Texas, who has also gone missing, police said.

The murder weapon, which has not been found, could be in the one of the teens' possession, police said.

Police said they believe Adrian Rios was murdered the night of Nov. 15 or early Nov. 16 and his body burned to hide the crime. Police following up on a missing-persons report filed by Rios' mother searched the Bluejay Way home and found human remains in the backyard.

Hemet police Chief Richard Dana said the remains are believed to be Rios, although they have not been positively identified.

Gang task force members are looking into whether one or both of the boys were associated with gangs, but they have ruled out a love triangle as a possible motive, police said.

"Obviously this is a particularly disturbing crime," said Assistant District Attorney Chuck Hughes.

"Burning a young man's body to hide a crime shows a definite inhumanity.

Margis said authorities believe people may have been called to the home after the murder, to help dispose of the body.

"We believe that there were six people in that house either at the time of the murder or close thereafter," Margis said. "There may be more. We're still working on identifying everybody who was in that house throughout that time period."

Campos had lived in the home for the past two months with his parents, but neighbors said the the home had been vacant for about a week before the night of the bonfire.

Police have never confirmed that the house was vacant and have said they believed that the teens originally gathered there to watch a football game, indicating there was some sort of television hookup at the home.

The investigation began Nov. 16 when Rios' mother, Elodia Lopez, went to find her son, after being told that he was seen at the Bluejay Way home the night of Nov. 15. Rios had apparently gone to the home to watch a football game with Campos.

Lopez found a sneaker that resembled her son's shoe, and the sneaker had "some sort of dried reddish" substance on it, according to Margis.

Detectives were called out and they found at least one shallow grave and the remains, Margis said.

They also found drag marks in the backyard.

Examination by a specialist determined that the remains turned out to be a right foot that had been attached to the leg as the body was being burned but was severed after the charring.

"Somebody met with foul play," Margis said.

Police said earlier the families of both boys have been cooperating with the investigation.

According to court documents, police who searched the home found a machete; a .22-caliber spent shell casing; bicycles; a shovel; butcher-style knives; a gas canister; burnt pieces of what looks like clothing; a partially burned T-shirt; pieces of rope; a sock; a yellow metal hoop earring; and a Hemet PD ticket issued to Jose Campos.