Who is Richard Rodriguez? Arizona man arrested after estranged girlfriend’s body found inside car's trunk in Southern California
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA: On Tuesday, November 7, Richard Rodriguez was arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of his estranged girlfriend, Christi Lynn Romero, whose body was discovered in the trunk of a car parked outside his parents' home in Huntington Beach, Southern California.
Romero, 54, was reported missing from her mobile home near state Route 77 and Interstate 40 of Arizona on Monday, according to the Holbrook Police Department.
"Her son had gone to the house. Her vehicle was gone, the door appeared to have been kicked in, and she was not in the residence," said Holbrook Police Chief Nathan Christensen, as per AZ Family.
The vehicle she reportedly possessed was a red 1995 Plymouth Neon coupe with two doors.
Gas station surveillance footage helped police catch Richard Rodriguez
According to the Huntington Beach Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 17000 block of Friml Lane at 5.15 pm Monday after receiving complaints of a family disturbance at the property.
The officials stated, "Upon arrival, patrol officers contacted the involved parties and secured the location. During the initial investigation, officers located a deceased adult female. She had passed away under suspicious circumstances."
This discovery was particularly alarming because Romero had obtained a restraining order against her estranged partner, Richard Paul Rodriguez, 34. The order was served to him on Thursday at the residence they shared.
Romero and Rodriguez had been living together, but he was evicted from the house after Romero obtained a restraining order against him last week. According to police, Romero's home was visited on Monday morning, but she and her car were both missing.
The Holbrook police bulletin included a photo of Romero's vehicle, which was believed to have been stolen by Rodriguez, and the picture later matched the sedan in which the body was discovered in Huntington Beach.
An alert to locate Romero, her car, and Rodriguez was issued across the nation.
Police obtained surveillance footage from a gas station in Heber, which is approximately 45 miles southwest of Holbrook, that displayed Rodriguez driving. Romero’s red car circled back and forth between various pumps.
Moreover, he was seen going up to the building, returning to the car, and then leaving, and it is evident from the footage that Romero was not present in the car.
As Holbrook Police Chief Christensen stated, "In that surveillance video, you can see her car, you can see Richard, but you can't see her in the car."
Based on cell phone records and bank transactions, Romero's family and Holbrook police determined that he was traveling to his parent's home in Southern California and took Interstate 10.
According to her family, they contacted Rodiguez's father about Romero, and he stated he was ordered by his son not to open the trunk of the car. The Huntington Beach police finally came into play when his father reportedly called 911.
"We know that a family disturbance call was placed from that location, officers responded, something led them to check the vehicle, and that's where the body was discovered," said Huntington Beach Police Department spokesperson Jessica Cuchilla.
Officers came and discovered the body of a woman in the trunk of a car. On Tuesday, the Orange County Coroner's Office confirmed the body was that of Romero.
However, her cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
What did Christi Lynn Romero’s family say about the ongoing investigation?
According to AZ Family, Christi Lynn Romero's family expressed dissatisfaction with the Holbrook Police Department's investigation, claiming that they did not act as swiftly as they should have and that they were the ones providing the police with all the updated information.
The police chief acknowledged their frustration but maintained that his department followed the proper protocols to obtain the necessary information.
"I’m sure if you look back, you know 20/20 vision, there’s probably somewhere that we could have done differently, but we didn’t expect this, so it was a shock to us as well," said Holbrook Police Chief Nathan Christensen.
On Tuesday, Romero's family issued a statement which read, "She was a loving and caring woman. He grandkids and kids love her, and we will never be the same. He took the heart of our family."
Richard Rodriguez has been taken into custody and charged with one count of murder. According to Chief Christensen, the authorities are in the process of obtaining search warrants for their home and cellphone data.
It is also possible that the suspect could face additional charges, such as kidnapping, burglary, aggravated assault, and vehicle theft. The Holbrook Police Department has emphasized that the investigation is active and ongoing.