Man charged with murdering truck driver in Fresno County. Suspect had gotten ride from him
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office filed charges Tuesday afternoon against a San Francisco man who allegedly killed a truck driver at a remote gas station off Interstate 5.
Isaiah Harley, 21, was charged with murdering 51-year-old Joe Madeira of Hesperia, with one enhancement charge of personal use of a deadly weapon.
Deputies responded at 7:30 a.m. Saturday to the parking lot of the EZ Trip Travel Center at 44779 Lassen Ave.
Authorities arrived at the scene near the city of Avenal and the Fresno-Kings county border, and found Madeira with stab wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The DA’s Office said Harley attacked Madeira after the truck driver gave him a ride in his big rig truck after Harley was involved in a traffic collision.
Detectives said the homicide is considered a “random attack,” and they are looking into the possibility that the suspect committed recent carjackings in Oakland and Bakersfield before going to Fresno County.
Harley faces a sentence of 26 years to life in prison.
He is scheduled for arraignment at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Fresno County Superior Court.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Madeira’s family.
