Malachi Dawson
32-year-old Malachi Dawson of Chino Hills was arrested on September 11th for the cold case murder of Noel Cornelius.
Several miles southwest of Dale Evans Parkway, off Interstate 15, lays unincorporated Apple Valley, a desert. On November 27, 2005, Victor Valley Station deputies headed to Apple Valley on reports of a dead body. The victim, the at-the-time unidentified Noel Cornelius, had suffered multiple fatal gunshot wounds.
At the time of his murder, Noel was 23 years old and married to Rebekah Dawson. Noel’s mother-in-law, Joy Roles, reported him missing on July 12, 2006, eight months after his body was found. Almost two years after he was reported missing, Mr. Cornelius’ body was identified.
The case remained unsolved and in 2012 cold case homicide detectives began re-interviewing witnesses and re-examining physical evidence. Eye-witness reports put Noel in the apartment of Malachi and Isaac Dawson, brothers of his wife Rebekah, before his body was found in the desert.
After extensive investigation, “Cold Case Detectives Salsberry and Hartleben arrested Malachi for the murder of Noel” (San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department).
Malachi Dawson is in the custody of West Valley Detention Center on the charge of murder and is being held on a million dollar bond.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Detective Adam Salsberry or Sergeant Greg Myler, Homicide Detail (909) 387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com
