UPDATE: Man arrested after woman’s body found behind Redding’s Viking Skate

October 29, 2019 Trevor Montgomery

UPDATED: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.

See Original story below

REDDING — Authorities investigating the Redding murder of a 20-year-old woman have arrested a man they say was responsible for strangling the victim and dumping her lifeless body behind a business on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 27.

“Redding Police Investigators have continued to work diligently on this homicide investigation since the victim … was discovered deceased,” Redding Police Investigations Sgt. Levi Solada said after the man’s arrest.

According to officials, the man who now stands accused of murdering Larissa Marie Cole, of Redding, who has since been identified as Jerome Denell Dzwonek, 21, of Redding, admitted killing the victim “during an altercation.” He has been booked into jail where he remains in custody on $1 million bail.

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Redding PD began investigating Cole’s murder after a person pulled into the Viking Skate parking lot Sunday afternoon and “immediately realized” there was a deceased person behind the building.

As their investigation was getting underway, officials “interviewed multiple witnesses and collected dozens of items of evidence,” according to Solada.

On Tuesday morning, Oct. 29, two day’s after Cole’s body was discovered, investigators identified Dzwonek as a suspect in her murder.

Officials arrested Jerome Denell Dzwonek, 21, after they say he admitted to strangling Larissa Cole, 20, and dumping her body behind Viking Skate in Redding. RPD photos

Based on their investigation officials located, detained, and questioned Dzwonek, regarding the homicide, according to Solada. Investigators also served a search warrant at Dzwonek’s residence in the 2500 block of Butte St. in Redding; where his vehicle was seized and searched.

During their searches, investigators “located and collected several items of evidence linking Dzwonek to the murder of Larissa Cole,”explained Solada.

During subsequent questioning, “Dzwonek provided details of the murder and confessed to strangling Larissa Cole during an altercation,” according to the Sgt.; who said, “He admitted to discarding her body to the rear of Viking Skate” after her murder.

A Redding PD official processes evidence collected during Cole’s murder investigation. RPD photo

Based on Dzwonek’s admissions and the evidence collected, investigators arrested the Redding man and he was subsequently booked into Shasta County Jail on charges related to Cole’s death.

“There are no other outstanding suspects,” said Solada.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Investigations Division at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R070839 and can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

Original Story: Murder victim, 20, found behind Redding’s Viking Skate ID’d

UPDATED: Tuesday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m., With additional details and victim’s identification.

REDDING — Authorities in Redding are continuing to investigate the murder of a 20-year-old Redding resident, whose lifeless body was found behind Viking Skate on the 700 block of Auditorium Dr. Sunday afternoon, Oct. 27.

Redding police officers and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene around 1:30 p.m., after receiving a report of a possible deceased person found near the parking lot behind the skate park, Redding Police Investigations Sgt. Levi Solada said after the investigation was underway.

When officers arrived they found the body of an adult female behind the business, according to Solada; who reported medical personnel who responded to the scene quickly confirmed the woman was deceased.

Officials are investigating the murder of a 20-year-old Redding resident, whose body was found behind Viking Skate. Redding PD photo

The victim has since been identified as Larissa Marie Cole.

According to KRCR News 7, the person who found the victim’s body, Alicia Balch, told investigators she discovered the woman’s body after pulling into the Viking Skate parking lot and “immediately realized” there was a deceased person behind the building.

Redding PD investigators who were requested and responded to the scene ultimately assumed the murder investigation.

“This is being investigated as a homicide and the investigation is currently ongoing,” Solada explained; saying, “There is no further information at this time.”

Anyone with information can contact the Redding Police Investigations Division at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R070839 and can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.