First of Three Monte Sereno Murder Suspects Appears in Court

Medical examiner yet to conclude clear cause of Silicon Valley millionaire's death

There are new details in the murder of a controversial South Bay millionaire. One of the three suspects accused of killing Ravi Kumra and beating his ex-wife during a home invasion robbery made his first court appearance Wednesday. 

We know what the three suspects are accused of stealing from the Kumra home after they allegedly killed him and beat his ex-wife.  We also know that there’s a very good chance that the reason investigators are so tight-lipped is because the suspects in custody aren’t the only ones.

As a colorful and less-than-flattering picture emerges of Kumra, the Silicon Valley businessman murdered in his Monte Sereno mansion, one of his accused killers appeared before a Santa Clara County judge Wednesday.

According to the felony complaint we obtained, the charges against 21-year-old Javier Garcia of Oakland include murder, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and false imprisonment.  The document also reveals that Kumra’s ex-wife, Harinder, was beaten with a metal object.

Garcia is charged along with two other suspects, 21-year-old Deangelo Austin of Sacramento and 26-year-old Lukis Anderson, a transient from San Jose. 

The trio is accused of stealing property, cash, collectable coins and jewelry from Kumra, his ex-wife and their home. All three have prior felony convictions for residential burglaries, though the district attorney’s office won’t say theft was the motive.

“The statement of probable cause is filed under seal with the court, so for that reason I can’t reveal the information contained therein,” Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Amir Alem said.

The Los Gatos Police Department is equally tight-lipped, but the spokesman did tell NBC Bay Area Wednesday that it’s not only possible that there are other suspects in the case -- it’s likely.

None of the three suspects in custody match the sketch of the suspect described by Harinder Kumra as Hispanic or white, about 23 or 24 years old, 6 feet tall, thin, black hair and dark eyes.

The district attorney’s office still gives no indication as to how the three suspects behind bars are connected 22-year-old Raven Dixon of Alameda, who is charged as an accessory in Kumra’s death.

While many folks may be talking about Kumra’s personal life and business dealings, law enforcement is focused on bringing his killers to justice.

A month after Kumra’s murder, the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to disclose any clear cause of death.  They say there are additional tests pending to pinpoint the cause.

All three suspects are due back in court later this week.

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