SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday offered rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction in a California court of the person or persons responsible for the following four unsolved cases in California.

The following is a brief description of each crime and the reward amount offered:

On December 29, 2007, 37-year-old Roger Harris was attending a party at a friend’s house in Fresno when two males approached him and asked him his name. When he answered, one of the males shot him several times. He died as a result of the gunshot wounds. The $50,000 reward was requested by Fresno Police Chief Jerry P. Dyer.

On December 31, 2007, the body of 14-year-old Ahlyja Pinson was found in an abandoned house in San Diego. The $50,000 reward was requested by San Diego Police Chief William M. Lansdowne.

On February 14, 2007, 39-year-old Jodine Elizabeth Serrin, a mentally challenged woman, was found murdered in her condominium in Carlsbad. The $50,000 reward was requested by Carlsbad Police Chief Tom A. Zoll.

On May 4, 2004, 28-year-old Ricardo Cordova Torres, Jr. was found dead at his home in Greenfield. The $50,000 reward was requested by Greenfield Police Chief Richard P. Grebmeier.

Under the Governor’s Reward program, 269 rewards have been offered since 1967 and 20 have been paid. The reward process is initiated when the Governor receives a written request from the chief of the law enforcement agency with investigatory jurisdiction over the matter. This request informs the Governor that (1) those responsible for the investigation have pursued all leads and believe, in their independent judgment, that a reward will help them in their efforts, (2) the crime is one for which a reward may be offered under California law and (3) the victims’ families support the reward. The Governor’s legal affairs unit processes the request and ensures statutory compliance. The Governor makes the final determination regarding the request.

Rewards may be offered for specified crimes under the California Penal Code and subject to statutory maximums. Rewards do not expire and are only paid if the information leads to the arrest and conviction in a California court of the individual or individuals charged with the crime.