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SUNNY Temp: 90 °F Wind: NW at 13 mph Tuesday, June 17, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 31, 2003 Medford police nab ex-L.A. pair Husband and wife face charges in the killing of her 2-year-old daughter By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune A husband and wife were arrested Friday in Medford on murder charges for an alleged child-abuse killing of her 2-year-old daughter in 2001 while the two were living in Los Angeles. Heavily armed members of the Medford Police Department’s SWAT Team arrested Fernando Paredes, 24, and Miranda Lynn Paredes, 23, around 6 a.m. at her mother’s southwest Medford home, where the couple had been living, authorities said. The pair are wanted for the death of Miranda Paredes’ daughter, Isabel, from a previous relationship, police said. They now face extradition to Los Angeles to face the murder charges. Isabel’s body was found in the couple’s Los Angeles home Aug. 31, 2001, but the two had fled before police arrived, according to LAPD Detective Rosalie Garcia. Advertisement Detectives later interviewed Miranda Paredes, who was known as Miranda Gilmore at the time, but they never interviewed Fernando Paredes, Garcia said. Miranda Gilmore moved to Oregon after Isabel’s death, and the couple subsequently married here, Garcia said. "We knew they were there," Garcia said in a Friday telephone interview. "We were just waiting for (prosecutors) to file charges in the case." The murder charges were filed April 4, but paperwork requirements delayed the arrest until this week, she said. Garcia declined to discuss specifics of Isabel’s death, including exactly how the girl died. Garcia did say, however, that Fernando Paredes had two domestic-violence cases against his then- girlfriend in Los Angeles, and that "there was some child abuse surrounding" Isabel’s death. Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said the charges allege that Isabel died from blunt trauma and strangulation at the hands of Fernando Paredes. The couple was lodged Friday without bail at the Jackson County Jail, where they await a Monday hearing in Jackson County Circuit Court. If they admit their identity and choose not to fight extradition, they will be released to the custody of Los Angeles detectives. Garcia said Miranda Paredes knew her husband was under investigation, but the couple did not know warrants had been issued for their arrest. The case here began earlier this week when detectives in the LAPD’s child abuse unit told Medford detectives they had warrants for the couple and told police where they lived. Police then gained a search warrant for a home on the 1700 block of Westwood Drive, a newer subdivision off Orchard Home Drive. "We had intelligence that the suspect could be hostile and possibly have access to weapons," Moran said. "So we decided to use the SWAT team." SWAT team members positioned themselves around the home and drove an armored car into the driveway shortly after 6 a.m., Moran said. Fernando Paredes apparently peeked out the window and saw police, who then ordered him out of the house, Moran said. He complied and was arrested without incident on the front lawn, Moran said. Miranda Paredes was arrested similarly a few minutes later, and no other arrests were made, Moran said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times