Crime & Incidents

During the course of this investigation, Christopher Baker, 36 years of Woodcrest, was identified as a suspect. Baker had been arrested for a felony warrany unrelated to this case on November 10, 2021, and booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center. November 11, 2021, Baker was also arrested for murder.

On November 12, 2021, at 7:00 A.M., members of the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT), with the assistance of the Southern Coachella Valley Community Service District Team (SCVCSDT), served a search warrant at two residences and one business, located in the 52-300 block of Avenida Obregon, La Quinta, the 40-300 block of Washington Street, Bermuda Dunes, and the 83-300 block of Highway 111, Indio. 

The victim has been identified as Edward V. Snyder, 47-year-old of Palm Desert and next of kin has been notified. If anyone has information regarding this investigation, they are encouraged to call Investigator Chua of the Palm Desert Sheriff Station at 760-836-1600 or Investigator Vasquez with the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777.

On Friday, November 12, 2021, at 11:30 A.M. the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force with the assistance of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau conducted a vehicle stop at Los Felices Circle and San Rafael Road in Palm Springs.

Arrest probably wasn’t in the cards for a self-proclaimed fortune teller whom authorities say scammed a Southern California woman out of $50,000 by claiming to cure her of parasites and her family of a curse.