2020 HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION AND ARREST

“On Sunday, June 28, 2020, at approximately 3:35 pm, Northeast District Patrol Officers were dispatched to the 4900 block of N. Backer Avenue (North Park Apartments) regarding a deceased male inside of an apartment. Officers arrived and discovered the body of 45-year-old Fresno resident Anthony Romero.

The investigation into Romero’s death found he had died several days earlier. The Fresno County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy and detailed examination on Romero’s body. On Thursday, December 10, 2020, Romero’s death was officially ruled a homicide. Homicide Investigators believe Romero was involved in a disturbance at the apartment complex. The autopsy revealed Romero died from severe trauma to the upper body.

Homicide Detectives actively worked leads to generate information on this case and developed a person of interest who was seen in the area around the time this incident occurred. A video was released, in February 2021, showing the person of interest which then generated several tips coming into the police department to assist detectives in pushing the case forward.

On September 1, 2021, Homicide Detectives determined 46-year-old Eastside Fresno Bulldog gang member Abel Tello was the suspect responsible for Michael Hartley’s murder which occurred at 797 N. Parkway Drive (Palace Inn). (See attached News release for details of Tello’s arrest).

Due to this arrest on September 1, 2021, Homicide Detectives were able to move forward on the 2020 murder investigation of Anthony Romero and added the charge of murder to Suspect Tello on September 4, 2021, while incarcerated at the Fresno County Jail.

Anyone calling with information about the 2020 murder investigation can remain completely anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at 498-STOP (7867). You may also contact Fresno Police Department – Homicide Detectives R. Rockwell at 621- 2448 or Detective M. Yee at 621-2407 with information regarding this investigation under Fresno PD Case# 20036294.”