Lebec Murder suspect Alex Richard Valdez, 29, returned to court today due to his alleged involvement in the murder of Kimberly Harvill and the kidnapping of her three young children.

Valdez’s appearance in court today marks the end of his pretrial process, and the murder suspect is scheduled to begin his jury trial on March 1 of next year, according to officials.

Joshua Aaron Robertson, 28, the other suspect for the murder of Harvill left to stand trial, is next expected in court for his arraignment on November 21, according to officials from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.

Robertson and Valdez’s story begins in a Fresno hotel room, where a family affair turned into a shootout. The events that transpired in NorCal, investigators believe, resulted in 26-year-old Kimberly Harvill’s body being discovered in Lebec, a remote area of Gorman.

Detectives believe Robertson, his wife, Brittney Sue Humphrey, 23, Valdez and Harvill were in a Fresno hotel August 12, 2016, when Harvill witnessed a shooting.

Related: Lebec Murder Suspect Returned To Court Wednesday

“Everyone in this case was involved in that Fresno shooting, and Harvill was the witness,” said Detective Scott Matlock of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Detectives didn’t disclose to KHTS News the details regarding the Fresno incident. However, law enforcement officials believe Harvill was killed by Valdez and Robertson for witnessing the shooting. Her body was found two days later on the side of the road in Lebec.

Robertson and Humphrey then fled California with Harvill’s three children, as well as Robertson’s daughter, according to detectives.

Robertson and Humphrey were arrested following a nationwide manhunt. Humphrey later made a plea in open court — meaning without a prearranged plea deal — and accepted a term of 13 years for her role in the murder of Harvill, her half-sister.

Along with the husband and wife, Valdez was arrested in March of this year on suspicion of connection to the case, according to Matlock.

After discovering Harvill’s body abandoned in a remote area of Lebec, investigators began reaching out to authorities across the country, eventually tracking their primary suspects across state lines.

Related: Lebec Murder, Kidnapping Suspect Returns To Court

“The (three) children were later found abandoned in New Mexico at a motel. Humphrey and Robertson were arrested later in Colorado,” said a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s news release.

Police found a missing then 18-month-old baby, Madisyn Harper, with Humphrey. Robertson was found two blocks away, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department news release.

Both male suspects have been charged with murder and kidnapping. Robertson was additionally charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

“They also face a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, making them eligible for the death penalty,” said a D.A.’s Office news release.

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