Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Napa Man's Pit Bull Put Down 1 Week Before His Murder
Neighbor questions whether pit bull's death and break-in were connected.
A pet pit bull owned by Don Warner Buffington, the Napa man stabbed to death Friday during an an apparent burglary attempt, was put down only a week earlier, a neighbor said.
The neighbor, who declined to be identified, said it seemed like too much of a coincidence that the break-in occurred such a short time after Junior, a pit bull trained to attack intruders, was put down due to hip dysplasia.
"It never would have happened if Junior was still alive," the neighbor said. "Junior would have never let an intruder in."
Napa Police said earlier today that they don't know if Buffington and his alleged attacker, Adrian Madrigal, a 24-year-old transient from the Napa area, knew each other or were connected in some way.
The neighbor had no word on who else might have known about Junior's death.
Napa police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information is urged to call Napa Det. Andy Hess at (707) 257-9507.
UPDATE: 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, 2013.
Don Warner Buffington, 62, of Napa was apparently killed during an attempted burglary, according to new details revealed today in the case of Adrian Madrigal, 24, a murder suspect in custody with Napa Police.
Napa Police Capt. Jeff Troendly said the ongoing investigation indicates that Madrigal entered Buffington's home at 1190 Hayes St. in Napa sometime before 4 a.m. on Friday through an unlocked window, with the intent of committing a burglary.
Once inside, a confrontation occurred between Buffington and Madrigal. During the confrontation, Madrigal allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times in the torso, Troendly said. The victim ultimately succumbed to those wounds, he said.
According to Troendly, after the confrontation, Madrigal left the residence, taking jewelry as well as Buffington’s vehicle.
At approximately 4 a.m. on Friday, Madrigal was contacted by law enforcement in the parking lot of a local hospital in Middletown, Lake County.
Hospital security reported Madrigal as suspicious person. At that time, the crime in Napa had not been discovered and Madrigal was released.
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At approximately 4 p.m. on Friday, Madrigal was stopped in the victim’s vehicle by a California Highway patrol officers for a vehicle code violation in the Lake Berryessa area.
The vehicle had no license plates and the officer saw jewelry within the vehicle, Troendly.
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The officer requested Napa officers to contact the victim at his residence on Hayes Street, Troendly said.
Officers went to this location and found blood on an exterior door rear door. Officers made entry into the home and found the victim deceased.
Troendly said later it was not immediately clear if Buffington's home was chosen randomly or if the two men were acquainted.
"We are still investigating if the victim knew Madrigal, so I can’t say one way or another at this time," he said.
Buffington, an 11-year Napa resident, was retired and lived alone -- but was close with his family. Troendly added.
"I do not know his prior profession," he said.
The Napa County Major Crimes Task Force was activated and this case is still under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Detective Andy Hess at (707) 257-9507
UPDATE: 10 a.m. Sunday, June 23, 2013A Napa man was identified Sunday as the victim of a murder being investigated by Napa Police.
Napa Police Capt. Jeff Troendly, in an email Sunday, identified the man as Don Buffington, 62.
Buffington's body was found Friday by Napa Police and Napa County Sheriff's deputies at a home in the 1100 block of Hayes Street.
The home was searched after a California Highway Patrol officer stopped Adrian Madrigal, 24, a transient, driving an SUV which turned out to belong to Buffington.
Madrigal has been arrested and is facing likely charges for suspected murder, robbery, burglary, vehicle theft, and violating probation.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Napa Police Det. Andy Hess, 707-257-9507.
ORIGINAL STORY: 6 p.m. Saturday, June 22, 2013.
By BAY CITY NEWS SERVICE
A 24-year-old man was arrested for murder in Napa on Friday afternoon, a police spokesman said today.
Adrian Madrigal, 24, was spotted by a California Highway Patrol officer driving a black Chevy Trailblazer with no license plates at about 4:55 p.m., according to Napa police.
The officer pulled Madrigal over and learned through the Department of Motor Vehicles that the vehicle was owned by a Napa resident, police said.
Napa police and sheriff's deputies went to the owner's home in the 1100 block of Hayes Street and reportedly found smears of blood on a back door, police said.
Officers entered the home and found the victim of a homicide, police said.
The exact cause of death remains under investigation and the victim's identity was not being released, police said.
Madrigal, a transient, was subsequently arrested for murder, robbery, burglary, vehicle theft, and violating probation.
The Napa County Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the case.
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