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The Puente Hills Mall Murders - Pt. 2

·52 min·4 clips

Police discovered a loaded revolver under a child's bed and an unexploded shotgun shell outside the door.

This episode continues the investigation into the Puente Hills Mall murders, hosted by Sean with co-hosts Jessica and Charles. They detail the arrests of four suspects: John Irvin Lewis II, his half-sister Robin Machuca, her boyfriend Vincent Hubbard, and John's girlfriend Eileen Huber. The hosts examine the suspects' backgrounds, growing up in Baldwin Park amidst family abuse, gang involvement, and early criminal records. Police raided an apartment in West Covina, finding a Ruger, a Smith & Wesson revolver under a child's bed, five rifles, and stolen property from victims Shirley Denogen and Elizabeth Nesbitt. An unexploded shotgun shell was found outside, linked to the attempted murder of Eugene Valdez, whose car parts were discovered on John Lewis's vehicle. A separate police raid at the Woodside Village Apartments resulted in the death of Daryl Stevens, a non-suspect shot 28 times by two officers. John Lewis confessed to five murders, including Willie Sams and Jose Avena, stating he committed them to "get back at society." Eileen Huber also confessed, while Robin Machuca and Vincent Hubbard did not make statements. The hosts critique a TV documentary about Eileen Huber that labeled her a "good girl gone bad" and featured anachronistic reenactments, like using a front-facing camera phone in 1991. They note Gary Huber, Eileen's father and an NRA member, owned the firearms stolen and used in the crimes, and he once laid in his front yard with a gun anticipating gang confrontations. A Los Angeles Times article interviewed mall patron Winona Gordon and quoted a crime prevention officer suggesting potential assault victims claim to have AIDS as a deterrent. The hosts discuss how media coverage shifted, initially separating the "San Gabriel Valley killings" from the "mall murders" before linking them. Pre-trial motions saw the defense attempt to throw out John Lewis's confession, arguing he was questioned after requesting an attorney, but the judge allowed it. The court redacted statements for a joint trial, with one edit making it sound like Lewis alone committed acts he initially described involving others. Jury selection faced challenges over the dismissal of potential Black and young jurors, resulting in a final jury with two Black members and one Hispanic member. The hosts question whether race influenced media portrayal, noting the term "pure victims" used for two white women and the "good girl" narrative for Eileen. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending factual recounting with critical commentary on media and police procedures. The hosts engage in thoughtful debate about the ethical implications of jailhouse interviews and the societal context of the crimes. Listeners interested in detailed true crime case analysis, discussions of media bias, and critiques of law enforcement actions would appreciate this episode. Those sensitive to descriptions of violence, police shootings, or familial abuse might find it distressing.

As heard by us

A careful, fact-minded recap that separates the arrests from the differing Jose Avena and Willie Sams accounts.

California True Crime's second Puente Hills Mall Murders chapter works best as a careful case-file recap, returning to the arrests, the robberies, the kidnappings, and the suspects tied to the investigation.

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Why you'd press play

A recap-heavy true-crime listen that sorts the Puente Hills Mall Murders into a clean timeline.

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