M. Martyr
Decapitated Grandmother And Then Fled With The Victim’s Head
Authorities in California are searching for a 24-year-old man who they say killed one of his female relatives, decapitated her, and then fled with the victim’s head.
Law enforcement is seeking the arrest of Luis Gustavo Aroyo-Lopez from Santa Rosa, California, on a homicide warrant for his involvement in a gruesome crime.
As per a news release issued by the Santa Rosa Police Department, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a residential location on Pomo Trail in the 2500 block at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Thursday in response to a potential homicide. Upon their arrival, emergency personnel entered the residence and discovered the lifeless body of a woman.
Police stated that the woman was decapitated and her head was not discovered at the residence.
Following a preliminary inquiry, investigators have determined that Aroyo-Lopez is responsible for the murder of the victim and subsequently fled the scene. It is worth noting that Aroyo-Lopez, who had recently been released from prison, is believed to be a relative of the deceased individual.
“It is believed Aroyo-Lopez took the victim’s head with him when he left the residence, and he may still be in possession of it,” police wrote in the release.
According to the authorities, Aroyo-Lopez is described as a Hispanic individual who stands at approximately 5 foot 6 and weighs around 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. The last known sighting of him was when he was wearing a long-sleeve black hooded sweatshirt or jacket, black pants, and white shoes. Notably, he has a prominent tattoo on the left side of his head consisting of the number “420” and a marijuana leaf.
It is believed that Aroyo-Lopez left his residence on Pomo Trail and headed south on Iroquois Street.
Based on the given information, Aroyo-Lopez was put on probation after being previously imprisoned for assault with a deadly weapon and weapons possession charges. It is important to note that these charges were unrelated to the victim involved in this particular incident.
A neighbor of the victim shared her account with San Francisco CBS affiliate KPIX regarding what she witnessed before and after the horrifying murder. To protect her safety in case the suspect returned, this neighbor, referred to as “Jessica,” disclosed that she observed Aroyo-Lopez nonchalantly strolling towards the victim’s residence around noon on Thursday.
“He just walked a normal pace and, made an exact turn up the walkway, and knocked on the door. I paused over here with my dog just to make sure my neighbor knew who he was,” Jessica told the station. “[The victim] was surprised and happy, and I heard the word ‘you.’ They were just, you know, talking and then the door closed, and I thought, ‘Phew! She knows the guy.’”
However, approximately three hours after her initial encounter with Aroyo-Lopez, Jessica recounted that she witnessed a woman frantically fleeing from the residence upon discovering the lifeless body of the victim without its head.
“She kept yelling ‘No head!’ and I wasn’t sure what she meant,” Jessica said, adding that the woman repeatedly went in and out of the victim’s house, apparently looking for the victim’s head. The woman who found the victim and was heard yelling was the victim’s sister, The Press Democrat reported.
Authorities have stated that Aroyo-Lopez is to be regarded as armed and dangerous. If anyone encounters him, they should immediately dial 911. It is strongly advised that individuals with any pertinent information regarding the case reach out to the Santa Rosa Police either by calling 707-543-3590 or utilizing the department’s tipline at www.srcity.org/CrimeTips. There is a reward of up to $2,500 available for providing information that leads to the arrest of Aroyo-Lopez.
According to various neighbors interviewed by KPIX, it was reported that Aroyo-Lopez is the grandson of the victim. However, as of Saturday morning, this information has not been officially confirmed.
UPDATE: SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY
