Man Accused Of Killing Another, Leaving Body In Hotel Bathtub

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Investigators Monday announced an arrest in connection with the killing of a man found dead in a Palm Springs hotel bathtub over the weekend.

Maciel Rogelio Cruz, 36, of Palm Desert, was arrested around 4:45 p.m. Sunday in the 73800 block of San Nicholas Avenue in Palm Desert. He's being held without bail at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning and is expected to make his initial court appearance on Wednesday.

The unidentified victim was found dead around noon Saturday in a bathtub at the Musicland Hotel, 1342 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Officers were called to check on the man after he had failed to check out of the hotel at the required time, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

"The death appeared to be suspicious, which resulted in the response of the PSPD Detective Unit. The initial investigation revealed the death was a homicide," according to a PSPD statement which did not reveal the cause of death.

Police said "several leads" led them to arrest Cruz, who "has an extensive criminal history involving violent crimes and narcotic sales."

Riverside County court records show he has prior felony convictions for grand theft auto, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substances and receiving stolen property.

His relationship, if any, to the victim, was unknown, and police said they were still working to uncover a motive for the killing.

Anyone with information regarding the death was urged to contact the Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 778-8411, or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867 to make an anonymous tip.

— By City News Service / Image via PSPD