October 27, 3:25 pm UPDATE
On October 21st, 2017 at 1:06 a.m., the Redding Police Department began a missing person’s investigation into the disappearance of David Allen Borders, 47 years of Riverside, California. It was reported to the Redding Police Department that David Borders was last seen at the Valero gas station on South Bonnyview Road at about 1:30 a.m. on October 20th, 2017.
On October 23rd, 2017, Redding Police Department Investigators met with members of David Borders family and learned more information as to what David Borders was doing on the night of his disappearance. Investigators learned that David Borders was meeting with several subjects in the early morning hours of October 20th, 2017 to conduct an illegal sale of marijuana. During the drug transaction David Borders got into an altercation with one of the subjects identified as Jesse Tern, 34 years of Redding.
Over the past four days Redding Police Investigators worked day and night investigating this case. The investigation led to an abandoned burned vehicle in eastern Shasta County. The vehicle had burned, unrecognizable human remains inside. Redding Police Department asked for assistance from the Redding Fire Department and Cal Fire to assist with the investigation to determine the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was in fact arson and that the subject in the vehicle was a victim of a homicide.
As Investigators from Redding Police Department, Redding Fire Department and Cal Fire were processing the vehicle and crime scene in Eastern Shasta County, Redding Police Investigators continued to look into the details of David Borders disappearance.
On October 26th, 2017 Redding Police Investigators contacted and eventually arrested a subject by the name of Julio Chaves Morales, 41 years of Redding. During an interview with Morales he admitted to assisting Tern and another subject by the name of Rachel Lee Rowe, 28 years of Redding, with transporting their Toyota Camry, with Borders deceased in the back seat, to Eastern Shasta County and setting fire to the vehicle with the deceased Borders inside.
Also on October 26th, 2017, the Redding Police Department SWAT team responded to the 1400 block of Murieta Loop in the city of Redding to serve a search warrant and arrest warrants for Tern and Rowe for the murder of Borders. Tern and Rowe were both located and arrested without incident and transported to the Redding Police Department for interviews.
During the investigation it was learned that Rowe, Tern and Borders were driving in a vehicle on Arizona St. in Redding when an argument over the marijuana drug deal began. During the argument Tern shot Borders while he was seated in the back seat of Rowe and Tern’s vehicle. After shooting Borders Tern and Rowe enlisted the assistance of Morales and transported their vehicle with Borders inside of it to eastern Shasta County where they attempted to burn the vehicle and the body of Borders.
Tern and Rowe were booked into the Shasta County Jail for the murder of Borders and Morales was arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail for arson, conspiracy, and accessory to murder.
Although the remains in the vehicle have not been positively identified as Borders, Redding Police Investigators believed the remains are those of Borders. We are currently working with the Shasta County Coroners officer to have the remains positively identified.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Redding Police Department at (530)225-4214.
The Redding Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating a man last seen during the early morning hours of October 20th.
David Allen Borders, 47 years, of Riverside, California, was last seen at the Valero gas station on South Bonnyview Road at about 1:30 a.m. on October 20, 2017. Mr. Borders suffers from a potentially life threatening condition which requires frequent dialysis. He is described as an African American male, 6’-1” tall, 250 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
This case is considered suspicious in nature. Anybody with information regarding the whereabouts of David Borders is urged to contact the Redding Police Department Investigations division at (530) 225-4200.
