Beridon murder trial is delayed

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Featured Stories

HERMISTON – The trial of Keith Beridon, 27, in the 2020 killing of Jesus Eli Lopez of Hermiston has been continued. Umatilla County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jaclyn Jenkins said the trial, which was supposed to begin this month, does not yet have a new date set. That will be decided at a hearing on Nov. 4.

Beridon is charged with second-degree murder, three counts of felony unlawful use of a weapon, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The body of Jesus Eli Lopez was found in the family’s garage on June 9, 2020.

Detectives for the Hermiston Police Department went from having few clues to developing a definite suspect just three months later. At the time, Lt. Randy Studebaker told us that a suspect had been identified and was in custody out of state on an unrelated matter. Studebaker praised the Oregon State Police, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Stanfield Police Department for their help with the investigation. Beridon was extradited from California to Umatilla County in July 2021.

Beridon, who had lived in La Grande at the time of the incident, was the subject of a proof is evident, presumption is strong hearing. Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said that it was determined that the presumption of guilt on the part of Beridon was strong, so he was ordered to be jailed without bail.