Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Alma Ahumada apprehended on Tuesday, after fleeing to West Fargo

Coleman arrested Sunday in New Rockford

A former New Rockford resident and his suspected accomplice wanted for murder are both behind bars after authorities learned they were staying the Bison Lodge.

Sheriff Paul Lies informed the Eddy County Commission on Jan. 21 that Rio Dell, Calif., police had contacted him regarding 39-year-old Demetrius Coleman, a former resident of New Rockford who was the prime suspect in a murder case in Rio Dell. Authorities in the Humboldt County, Calif. community had been searching for Coleman for months.

They knew Coleman had connections here and in Fargo, so they stayed vigilant for details on his whereabouts. Then, on Sunday, Jan. 26, the Eddy County Sheriff's Office received information that led them to the Bison Lodge along U.S. Hwy. 281, where he was believed to be staying. When they arrived, Coleman and a woman, Alma Ahumada, fled on foot.

Deputies were able to surround a small building behind the lodge where they believed Coleman was hiding. He continually ignored commands to surrender and exit the building, so the North Dakota Highway Patrol and Foster County Sheriff's Office watched the perimeter while Eddy County Sheriff's Office deputies made entry into the building. Coleman was apprehended without force and transported to the Stutsman County Correctional Center in Jamestown, N.D. for extradition back to California.

Ahumada, who is also wanted in the Humboldt County, Calif. murder case, escaped during the Sunday incident. Authorities continued to search for her Monday and Tuesday. She somehow had made it out of New Rockford and to West Fargo, where she was arrested by the West Fargo Police Department on Tuesday, Jan. 28. In a release to local news media, Rio Dell police chief Jeff Conner was said to be in North Dakota assisting with the investigation and apprehension of Ahumada.

Rio Dell authorities believe both Coleman and Ahumada were involved in the fatal drive-by-shooting of 26-year-old Johnny Mack Renfro, a Texas native and Humboldt County resident. Renfro was shot once in the abdomen from a passing car in Rio Dell in August 2019.

According to a press release issued on Jan. 27 by Rio Dell police, video footage of the incident was recovered by investigators with the help of a local resident. "The footage depicted the murder of victim Johnny Renfro as well as the assailant's vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle used in the homicide was recovered by the city. Numerous pieces of evidence were collected and processed," according to the release.

Coleman was named the prime suspect in the case in October, and authorities had tracked him first to Sacramento and then Idaho before contacting North Dakota police with information that he may be back here.

Rio Dell Police Sergeant John Beauchaine cautioned that Coleman is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. "I'm very confident that we have the correct person responsible for this homicide. We have done our best to provide evidence beyond a reasonable doubt of Coleman's guilt and we will continue to work with the District Attorney as needed. Ultimately, this will end up back in the community's hands one more time, through a jury," he said in a statement.

Many law enforcement agencies in North Dakota and California have assisted with the investigation, including the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Foster County Sheriff's Office, West Fargo Police Department, Rio Dell Police Department, Humboldt County District Attorney's Office and Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol and police departments in the neighboring cities of Arcata, Eureka, Ferndale and Fortuna.