Arrest Made in Murder of Monrovia Mother

A former boyfriend of a 31-year-old Monrovia mother of two whose body was found in her car in June was arrested today on suspicion of murdering her.

The body of Lajoya McCoy, who had been reported missing after she missed some appointments, was found in her car in the 200 block of Cypress Avenue on June 16, one day after detectives went to her home in the 800 block of West Olive Avenue and discovered evidence of foul play, the sheriff’s department reported.

Monrovia police called in sheriff’s homicide detectives, and McCoy’s car was found during a grid search of the area, officials said.

Her ex-boyfriend, 45-year-old Jose Roberto Turner, was arrested about 8:30 a.m. and booked at the sheriff’s Temple Station on suspicion of murder, according to Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Turner was being held without bail, Rouzan said.

McCoy worked as an accountant with Los Angeles County and owned a clothing boutique. Friends said her two children, ages 7 and 9, were staying with their father when she went missing.

--City News Service