Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives investigating the murder of Caleb Leriano at Morphett Vale on Wednesday have arrested a man in Perth, with extradition proceedings now underway to bring the 22-year-old suspect to South Australia.
About 1.30am on Wednesday 11 March, police and emergency services were called to Golflands View following reports that a BMW sedan had collided with a stobie pole. The driver and sole occupant, 24-year-old Caleb Leriano of Morphett Vale, was found with life threatening injuries and despite the efforts of paramedics, he sadly died at the scene.
What initially appeared to be a single-vehicle accident took a sinister turn during initial investigations. Caleb's death is being treated as suspicious and has been declared a Major Crime after his injuries were determined to have occurred as a result of an assault, prior to the crash. Authorities initially treated the incident as a traffic accident, but further examination revealed injuries inconsistent with a crash, leading detectives to reclassify the case as murder.
The circumstances leading to the assault remain unclear. Police understand that Caleb drove his red 2003 BMW to the vicinity of Saphire Reserve Morphett Vale for a planned meeting in the early hours of Monday morning. The reason for that meeting and what occurred is being investigated.
A graduate of Kenya Utalii College, Leriano had moved to Australia and worked as a chef in the disability care sector. Investigators have stated that the attack was unlikely to be random, though the purpose of the meeting is unclear.
Forensic Response officers, along with Southern District and Major Crime detectives attended the scene and are conducting further investigations into the incident. Two homes have been searched by detectives as part of the investigation, in addition to searches of a local park with the assistance of SA State Emergency Service personnel.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers online or on 1800 333 000.