Aug 10, 2022

Suspects in 2010 killing extradited from South Carolina to Kansas

Posted Aug 10, 2022 4:55 PM
Kristopher Valadez-photo Sedgwick Co.
Kristopher Valadez-photo Sedgwick Co.

GREENVILLE COUNTY, South Carolina— Two suspects accused in the the death of a Kansas man whose body was found in a culvert in 2010 have been extradited from South Carolina to Kansas.

Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, 32-year-old Kristopher Valadez and 32-year-old Candace Valadez were booked into jail the Sedgwick County jail, according to the sheriff's department booking report.

He is being held on a requested charge of second degree murder. She is jailed on a requested charge of aiding a felon, according to online records.

In February of 2010, 19-year-old German Clerici's mother reported him missing after she had not heard from him since late January, according to a statement from the Butler County Sheriff's office.  Clerici's car was also missing.

Several days later, investigators found Clerici shot to death in a culvert east of Augusta. Four months later, deputies found his car in the 3000 Block of East 21st North in Wichita.

Candace Valadez-photo Sedgwick County
Candace Valadez-photo Sedgwick County

In 2021, Butler County Sheriff Monty Hughey had investigators take a fresh look at the case.  They discovered information that prompted investigators to conduct follow-up interviews and learned more information and new evidence in the case. 

 In July,  investigators from the Butler County Sheriff's officials traveled to South Carolina. With the assistance of the Greenville South Carolina County Sheriff's Office and Wichita police, deputies arrested the couple.

Both are former Wichita residents and expected to make an appearance in court Thursday morning, according to Sedgwick County District attorney's office.