Mares

FACTS

Derek Coltrain died from multiple stab wounds inflicted on his face, shoulder, and

torso. In a complaint, the district attorney charged Daniel Oliver Mares with murdering

him. During a preliminary hearing, four police officers testified about the investigation,

which included taking statements from Mares, his girlfriend Marina, and other

eyewitnesses. Our factual summary recounts that testimony.

On July 12, 2018, police responded to reports of a stabbing in Redlands and

discovered Coltrain lying in a parking lot with stab wounds and significant blood loss. He

received treatment but died of his wounds.

Officers interviewed one witness who saw Coltrain and Mares arguing and a

second witness who saw Mares running from the scene. Police also interviewed Mares’s

girlfriend of two years, Marina, who said she was with Mares during the killing. She said

they argued with Coltrain about a bicycle she thought was stolen from her. She told

police she and Mares saw the bicycle on the porch of a house, and they knocked on the

door. Coltrain responded, and a second man invited Mares and Marina into the house.

Coltrain became upset when accused of taking the bike and went out…