Saturday, February 15, 2025

Covelo Man Formally Charged with Murder for Killing His Cousin with a Vehicle

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Christopher Bettegea [Mugshot from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office]

A criminal complaint filed by the Mendocino County District Attorney has formally charged 23-year-old Covelo man, Christopher James Bettega, with the September 4, 2021 murder of his cousin, William Daniel Bettega.

Christopher Bettega faces a special allegation regarding the use of a vehicle to commit the murder.

A press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office provides the most insight into the events leading up to the crime. Reportedly, in the early morning of September 4, there were multiple reports of an assault and kidnapping that had occurred in the Covelo area. Initially, Christopher and William were reported to be the victims of the crimes.  As deputies responded to that call, a “separate call for service regarding a located deceased person was dispatched.” 

Deputies found  William Bettega deceased lying in the roadway near the intersection of Crawford and Henderson Road. First responders quickly determined that William Bettega’s death was caused by being struck by a vehicle.

Based on these findings, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol investigators began to comb the area for clues. A patrol deputy discovered a vehicle in the Short Creek Drainage east of Biggar Lane on which evidence was located on the exterior that indicated a collision had occurred involving a pedestrian. Allegedly, Christopher Bettega was determined to be the primary driver of that vehicle.

After extensive interviews and investigations, a warrant was served on September 8, 2021 at a residence near Biggar Lane and Mendocino Pass Road concluding with the arrest of Christopher Bettega for murder after which he was booked in the Mendocino County Jail where he remains to this day.

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There is no indication, as per MCSO, that there is any veracity to the initial reports of a kidnapping. That being said, the investigation “is still active” and MCSO requested that anyone with information regarding the activities of Christopher and William Bettega on the night of September 3, 2021, and subsequent early morning hours reach out. Additionally, MCSO is seeking any surveillance footage that depicts a “lifted white Chevy Silverado traveling on downtown Covelo roads between the hours of 12:00 AM (midnight) and 1:30 AM on 09-04-2021”

Please note: a portion of this article has been removed regarding the arrest of a family of Bettega’s after their request.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Round Vally, Covelo has become not only a refuse dump for every type of plastic trash, garbage, litter, and destructive cannabis land use practices, but is overloaded with criminals of every description. Half the population of invading misfits have rap sheets. There is a near total breakdown in the local culture. Many law abiding folks here have moved away or are planning to get the hell out. It’s sad to see such a beautifully valley used as a mecca for the lowest forms of humanity. The county operates a catch and release program. And these recalcitrants return back here to continue their crimes.

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Matt LaFever
Matt LaFeverhttps://mendofever.com/
For the past seven years, Matt LaFever has covered the North Coast of California in both print and radio news. A Humboldt State graduate, he has lived in the Emerald Triangle for nearly 20 years. His reporting spans local issues like crime and wildfires. When not writing, Matt is an avid outdoorsman, exploring Northern California’s rugged landscapes. Reach out to him at matthewplafever@gmail.com.

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