Crime & Safety
Fairfield Homicide Suspect Turns Self In: Police
The Fairfield Police Department said Iyesia James, 43, of Woodland, is now in custody.
SOLANO COUNTY, CA — UPDATE: A 43-year-old Woodland woman wanted in the homicide of a Fairfield woman is now in custody, according to the Fairfield Police Department. Iyesia James, was identified by police Thursday morning as the suspect in the Aug. 6 death of Letha Bell Portis, 51.
Thursday evening — less than 12 hours after police named her as the suspect and released her photo — James turned herself in to the Fairfield Police Department, a spokesperson said.
"She has been booked into Solano County Jail and charged with murder," Fairfield PD Spokeswoman Kathryn McCormick said.
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ORIGINAL REPORT: Fairfield police identified a Woodland woman Thursday as their suspect in the Aug. 6 homicide of a Fairfield woman. Detectives have determined that the suspect Iyesia James, 43, Woodland, and the victim, Letha Bell Portis, 51 of Fairfield, knew each other and were involved in an altercation before James allegedly assaulted Portis in a parking lot in the 1700 block of N. Texas Street.
The assault was reported to police, and officers responded to find Portis bleeding and unconscious in the parking lot, said Kathryn McCormick, a spokesperson for the Fairfield Police Department.
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Officers rendered first aid until paramedics arrived and took Portis by ambulance to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
"Following the assault, the suspect fled and has not been located," McCormick said.
Thursday, police released a photo of James and say she may currently be a transient within the city of Fairfield.
Anyone who knows of her whereabouts or sees her is asked to not approach her, but to call their local police department.
In Fairfield, police can be reached at 707-428-7600 or via a 24-Hour Tip Line at 707-428-7345. Any0ne with information may also call Solano County CrimeStoppers at 707-644-7867, or text TIPFAIRFIELDPD followed by a message to 888777. Callers and texters can choose to remain anonymous, police said.
Photo courtesy Fairfield Police Department
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