warning about fake calm holiday lights tickets

warning about fake calm holiday lights tickets

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — California Living Museum in Bakersfield is issuing a warning about fake tickets for it’s popular Holiday Lights display. Zoo officials say the code CR2025 was not meant for public use, but somehow got shared online, leading to invalid tickets being issued by mistake. CALM says any tickets obtained through the code…Read More

update: maya hernandez murder trial

update: maya hernandez murder trial

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — More witnesses took the stand Wednesday in the trial of Maya Hernandez, 20, who faces second-degree murder charges in the death of her 1-year-old son in southwest Bakersfield. Hernandez, of Visalia, is accused of leaving her two young children inside a hot car while she received a lip filler injection at…Read More

talks continue between taft, bakersfield, on prisoner housing

talks continue between taft, bakersfield, on prisoner housing

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Talks are ongoing between the city of Bakersfield and prison officials in Taft over using the prison’s jail space to house inmates convicted of crimes in Bakersfield. According to the Taft Midway Driller, the Taft city manager says discussions about using the Community Correctional Facility to house inmates are still in…Read More

convicted killer denied parole

convicted killer denied parole

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A convicted Kern County killer has been denied parole. Arturo Huerta, 73, was sentenced in 2013 after his conviction on second-degree murder charges for killing Acamea Coy in his bedroom with a knife and a ball-peen hammer in 2011. Huerta’s roommate told police the voice of a woman screaming “no” was…Read More

jury deadlocks on battery charge after oildale fight

jury deadlocks on battery charge after oildale fight

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Kern County jury has deadlocked on key charges after a fight at a park in Oildale. Jurors acquitted Felix Gutierrez last week of possessing a gun and showing a weapon, but failed to convict him of misdemeanor battery. The trouble happened April 27, 2025 at Beardsley Park after a group…Read More

bakersfield couple accused of torture, murder, return to court

bakersfield couple accused of torture, murder, return to court

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Bakersfield couple accused of torture and murder are set to appear in court Thursday, December 11. A readiness hearing is scheduled for Raya Mata, Jr., 31, and Graciela Bustamonte, 27, following the death August 2, 2025, of Mata’s daughter Genesis Mata, 8. The child’s tortured remains were discovered inside a…Read More

hot car death trial begins

hot car death trial begins

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Opening statements began Monday in the trial of a Visalia woman accused of murder after allegedly leaving her children inside a hot car in southwest Bakersfield. Defense attorneys told the court they plan to concede to charges of manslaughter and child cruelty, but will contest a second-degree murder charge against Maya…Read More

bakersfield man convicted of fatal stabbing

bakersfield man convicted of fatal stabbing

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Bakersfield man has been found guilty of first degree murder in a New Year’s Day stabbing. On Wednesday, jurors convicted Kenneth Landcraft, 60, of killing Paul Camarillo Jr., 35, on January 1, 2025. Surveillance video shows Landcraft step out of a car with a knife and rush Camarillo in an…Read More

bakersfield woman could be sentenced to probation for dui crash

bakersfield woman could be sentenced to probation for dui crash

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Bakersfield woman convicted of driving drunk and crashing into a house will be sentenced next week. Madison Williams, 29, was found guilty in October of felony DUI charges and could spend several years in prison after she ran a stop sign at Old River Road and Taft Highway and struck…Read More

man accused of drugging, raping teenager enters plea

man accused of drugging, raping teenager enters plea

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A 49-year-old man is accused of luring two teenagers to a southwest Bakersfield hotel room where he allegedly drugged and raped a 14-year-old girl. Court documents indicate Christopher Nelson allegedly gave the girl methamphetamine, then engaged in several sex acts at a hotel in the 3600 block of Wible Road on…Read More