Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspect Wednesday in the Dec. 2 murder of Franco Olea, a Newhall man who was stabbed outside of his home following an argument.
Lt. John Corina of Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau identified the suspect as Cesar Navarro, 21, of Newhall. He is accused of stabbing Olea outside of his home after Olea responded to the car alarm.
Earlier report, Dec. 3, 2012:
Detectives released the identification of a man who was stabbed to death outside of his Newhall home, according to law enforcement officials.
Franco Olea, 28, was believed to be responding to a car alarm outside of his home when he confronted the man who stabbed him, according to officials.
Olea was suspected of being a member of Newhall 13, a local gang, but officials are still not certain whether that was a factor in his murder, according to Lt. John Corina of the Homicide Bureau.
“We’re still not sure of a motive, as far as if it was just a robbery or if it was a gangbanger,” Corina said. There is no suspect at this time, he added.
Initial report:
A man died at the hospital after being stabbed at 2:21 a.m. Sunday morning.
“The Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau detectives have responded to the 22800 block on 15th Street in Newhall to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stabbing death of a male adult,’ said Sgt. Rich Pena Sheriff’s Department.
“The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead,” according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
Detectives have learned that deputies responded to the above location regarding a “possible burglary” 9-1-1 call. Upon their arrival, Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station deputies discovered the victim, a 28-year-old Hispanic man, lying on the driveway suffering from what appeared to be a stab wound.
The victim was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia where he was pronounced dead.
Witnesses stated that they heard a car’s alarm activate on the street, according to Lt. Corina of the Homicide Bureau. When they went outside, the witnesses saw the victim fighting with another Hispanic male in the driveway of the residence. The suspect appeared to stab the victim and then left the location in an unknown direction.
The victim’s identity has not been released pending the notification of next of kin, according to coroner’s officials.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call 323-890-5500 and speak with or leave a message for Lt. John Corina.
Newhall Man Arrested in December Stabbing Death
