Second Suspect Named in Connection to Beaumont Murder

A second woman was arrested in connection with the murder of a 44-year-old Beaumont woman, new court documents reveal.

Tanita Marie Baker was arrested the same day as Beaumont murder suspect Vanessa Fierro, at the same location in Simi Valley, court and jail records indicate.

Fierro had first been named a "person of interest" in the Feb. 28 death of murder victim Elizabeth "Coti"Asselin, and was arrested as a suspect on March 6 when Beaumont police say they tracked her down to a home in Simi Valley with the help of multiple leads.

Fierro's was the only arrest initially announced.

According to a criminal complaint provided by the district attorney's office to Banning-Beaumont Patch, Baker is being prosecuted in the same case as Fierro.

The complaint indicates that Fierro is being charged with one count of murder, and accuses her of stabbing her roommate Asselin to death.

Baker, 36, faces a count of accessory to murder, according to the complaint.

"Baker... did willfully and unlawfully, having knowledge of the cime of homicide... did harbor, conceal and aid said Vanessa Kathleen Fierro with the intent that she might avoid and escape from arrest, trial, conviction and punishment from said felony," the complaint states.

Both women entered pleas of not guilty in Riverside court on Monday, according to the DA's office.  Their next court date is set for March 20.

Jail records indicate Baker and Fierro were being held at the jail in downtown Riverside as of Monday evening.  Baker's bail was set at $540,000, while Fierro's was $1 million.

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