Man Arrested In Connection With North County Murder

VISTA, CA — A man was arrested in connection with a killing in Vista after authorities initially found no obvious signs of trauma on the victim, officials said Saturday.

Arturo Garcia Morales, 26, was taken into custody Friday in the 400 block of Seagaze Drive in Oceanside in connection with the murder of Jose Garcia Ramirez, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

Ramirez was found dead March 30 with no obvious signs of trauma in an empty lot in the 1200 block of Hacienda Drive in Vista, sheriff's officials said. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office took custody of the body.

The arrest came after an autopsy on April 1 showed a brain bleed that may have resulted from head trauma, prompting the sheriff's Homicide Unit to take over the investigation.

Morales was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of murder. He was being held without bail and was scheduled to be arraigned April 8 at North County Superior Court.

Authorities said the cause and manner of death remain under review by the Medical Examiner's Office.

Authorities asked anyone with information about the case to call the sheriff's Homicide Unit at at 858-285-6330 or after hours at 858-868-3200. Anonymous tips can be submitted through San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.