By Gary Meyer, TME

There were two witnesses to the murder of Frazier Park resident Eric Futrell on May 4 in Lamont, according to Kern County Sheriff’s deputies and homicide detectives.

Detectives answered questions from Kern County Deputy District Attorney Courtney Lewis and defense attorney Chambers before Superior Court Judge Colette M. Humphrey on September 23.

The purpose of the hearing was to present evidence for the judge to decide whether the case should move forward to trial.

Lewis established the facts as detailed by the investigators who testified that they arrived at the scene to find the body of Eric Futrell lying face up in the…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Lebec resident Jonathan Villapando is escorted from the courtroom after his September 23 preliminary hearing in Bakersfield on a murder charge.

Jonathan Villapando in the courtroom on September 23

In the courtroom on September 23, Jonathan Villapando is seated at lower right with his attorney (standing).

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This is part of the September 25, 2020 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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