Search Continues For OC Man After 71-Year-Old IE Woman Severely Beaten With Baseball Bat

CRESTLINE, CA — Authorities confirmed Monday that they are still searching for an Orange County man accused of beating a 71-year-old woman with a metal baseball bat inside her Inland Empire mountain home after she asked him to move out.

Deputies responded around 6 a.m. Tuesday to the 23900 block of Straight Way in Crestline to conduct a welfare check on the victim, whose identity was not released.

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Upon entering the home, officers found the woman suffering from severe injuries, including a forehead laceration, a cut eyebrow, swollen hands, and facial swelling so severe she could not see clearly, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators identified the suspect as Erik Eduardo Navarro, 26, who had been living with the victim for about two weeks.

The assault allegedly occurred after the woman asked Navarro to leave the residence. During an argument, Navarro struck her multiple times with a metal baseball bat and kicked her repeatedly before fleeing the scene, deputies said.

Navarro remains at large. The sheriff's department released his photograph (see above) and is asking for the public's help in locating him.

Anyone with information regarding Navarro's whereabouts is asked to contact the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station at 909-336-0660. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text "REPORT" to WeTip at 844-909-3006 or submit a tip online at https://mobile.catapultems.com/sbcsd/Sites.