Banning Council Approves Request for $25,000 Reward in 2011 Triple Homicide

The Banning city council has approved a police department request for a $25,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the triple homicide in September 2011 on North Phillips Avenue.

The council voted 5-0 on the police request at Tuesday night's council meeting, Banning police Chief Leonard Purvis and Sgt. Alex Diaz said Wednesday.

"On September 6, 2011, a triple homicide took place inside a residence located in the 100 block of N. Phillips . . . in the City of Banning," Purvis said in a report to the city council before they voted.

"Since that time, Banning Police Department Investigators have followed up on over one hundred leads on the case," Purvis said. "Unfortunately, none of the information has led to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for the homicides."

Police investigators "believe there are individuals in the community that may have information needed to break the case and believe a reward will provide enough incentive for this person, or individuals to come forward."

Whoever killed Natasha Biggers, 33, Demetrius Hunt, 42, and Cynthia Smith, 57, and left a toddler bound and gagged in the same home on Phillips Avenue likely has local connections, according to police and relatives of the victims.

In January, Marva Biggers, aunt of Natasha Biggers, came to the council to ask for to help solve the murders.

The three adults were found deceased just after 12:20 pm. Sept. 6, 2011, at a residence in the 100 block of Phillips Avenue, police said. The little boy was found in a converted bathroom about three hours after the victims' bodies were discovered.

"We need help, and by posting a reward that will help," Marva Biggers, aunt of Natasha, said in an interview outside council chambers in Banning.

Natasha's mother, Deborah Biggers, was also at the council meeting. She read from the back of a police detective's business card when she came outside to be interviewed.

"Their mission statement is 'The Banning Police Department is committed to serve with honor and protect all citizens of our culturally diverse community through a partnership focused on public trust and providing a safe environment for all.'

"I couldn't help but look back at that, as to why I came back to Banning after being raised here," Deborah Biggers said. "Simply because it was safe.

"And then 33 years later I lost my child and I just want justice to be served," she said. "I'm a home owner here, my father was a business owner, and Banning is our home."