TEACHERS: Tentative agreement reached with province A3 Friday, June 29, 2012
JUNE 2012
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Knight Cres. death ruled homicide ■ CRIME
Victim Jordan Christian Reno was acquitted of ‘Beaton River beatings’ near Fort St. John DeLynda PIlon newsroom@pgfreepress.com
The city’s latest homicide victim has a long record of charges and is associated with an incident in Fort St. John deemed the Beaton River beatings. Twenty-two-year-old Jordan Christian Reno’s body was found by the police on the 4100 block of Knight Crescent during the morning of June 23. Jodi Shelkie with the Fort St. John RCMP confirmed this was the same Jordan Christian Reno who was charged following a series of beatings at Beaton River near the northern city. The serious crime unit and forensic identification section were called to investigate the Knight Crescent home and gather evidence. The next day an autopsy confirmed the death was a homicide. Though the cause of death was determined, it has not been released to the public. A statement from the police says: “The integrity of any investigation is paramount, especially in the case of a homicide. It is important that the details of homicide investigations remain undisclosed. “At this time, no further details will be released. The investigation is continuing.” The release added that police believe the murder was targeted and don’t believe public safety is at risk. The Beaton River beatings occurred July 25, 2010 when five men, Reno among them, were accused of assaulting 24 people with baseball bats and
Ph o to C o ur te s y o f th e R C M P
Prince George police investigate a home on Knight Crescent where the body of Jordan Christian Reno (inset, from Facebook profile) was discovered June 23. two-by-fours in the early morning hours during a 19th birthday party at Beaton River. Each of the men had 40 charges laid against them. Reno was cleared of all charges. The judge said the witnesses, who spoke with one another about the incident before trial, gave unreliable evidence. Some reported seeing who assaulted them, then admitted later they were told who did it by someone else. During the trial witnesses were reportedly intimidated by
some of the defendants, who were laughing and making gestures at them, one of whom was supposed to have made eye contact and fist-punched his hand. Reno was released from the Prince George Correctional Centre in May. This, however, wasn’t Reno’s only brush with the criminal justice system. Public files available on the court services online website listed charges against Reno as early as 2008 (theft $5,000 or under and breach of an undertaking).
He also appeared to have strong social connections in the Fraser Valley. Many of his “friends” listed on his Facebook profile are from Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack. Reno’s convictions in Mission run from 2008 to 2010 and include theft, break-and-enter, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and numerous breaches of his parole and bail conditions. He was also convicted in January 2011 of a break-and-enter in Abbotsford.
Cpl. Craig Douglass, Prince George RCMP media liaison, confirmed Reno was known to police. “He has a significant history with police,” Douglass said. However he said the police are not in a position to discuss details since, in this case, Reno is not the suspect, but rather the victim. ”We don’t further victimize victims.” With files from Kyla Corpuz, Northeast News and Vikki Hopes, Abbotsford News.