A jury convicted a man this week of carjacking, kidnapping and murdering a Victorville man whose body was discovered inside a burning car in Adelanto last year.
Teveen Hemphill, 61, of Adelanto was found guilty Monday, July 20, of second-degree murder, carjacking, kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in San Bernardino County Superior Court, records show. The jury also found true special allegations related to the use of a gun in the crimes.
He was acquitted of an additional charge of robbery.
The verdicts followed a trial that lasted well over a month, followed by nearly three weeks of jury deliberation.
Hemphill was arrested two days after the the body of 28-year-old Ricky Matthew Madrid of Victorville was discovered inside a burning sedan found abandoned in Adelanto about 11:35 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials said at the time.
A grisly discovery
The remains were found after a deputy spotted a “large cloud of smoke” El Mirage and Vinton roads, officials said. Upon approaching, the deputy found the source of the smoke was a sedan that was “fully engulfed in flames,” sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
Firefighters were summoned to put out the blaze.
“After the fire was extinguished, fire personnel located an unidentified male in the front of the vehicle,” the statement said. Madrid was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives quickly identified Hemphill as a suspect in the killing, taking him into custody about 1 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, outside a Stater Bros. store at Highway 395 and Palmdale Road in Adelanto, according to sheriff’s officials and county booking records.
Details regarding the relationship between Hemphill and Madrid were not available.
Hemphill remains in custody without bail through the trial process.
Prior to sentencing, a hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3 in which the jury will consider potentially sentencing-enhancing allegations relation to prior offenses and aggravating factors.
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This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man convicted of murder, carjacking, kidnapping in Adelanto slaying
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press | USA TODAY Network
