-Editorial
On the evening of Saturday, January 4, 2025, the Calipatria Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive male lying near the intersection of Railroad Street and Delta Street in Calipatria. Upon arrival, officers discovered 28-year-old Nicholas Spence, a local resident, deceased at the scene despite emergency lifesaving efforts.
Given the severity of the incident, the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office assumed lead responsibility for the investigation. Preliminary findings and evidence at the scene classified the case as a suspicious death. The Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Spence’s death.
The investigation identified 22-year-old Johvan Herrero, a resident of Niland, as a person of interest. On Sunday, January 5, 2025, at approximately 8:50 a.m., Herrero was apprehended during a traffic stop in Niland. He was subsequently arrested and booked into the Imperial County Jail on charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon, with bail set at $1,000,000.
Additionally, 25-year-old Xochitl Rendon of Niland was arrested as an accessory to the crime and booked with bail set at $10,000.
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate this case. Authorities are encouraging anyone with relevant information to contact Investigator Ilse Ruiz at (442) 265-2100. This remains an active investigation.
