Murder Suspect Due In Court For Oceanside Houseguest Slaying

VISTA, CA – An Oceanside resident who allegedly murdered an acquaintance who had been staying with him was due to appear in court Tuesday.

Michael Charles Newton, 66, is accused in the death of a 41-year-old man whose body was found last Thursday in an apartment in the 3200 block of Mission Cove Way, police spokesman Tom Bussey said.

A 911 caller reported the suspected homicide shortly before noon Thursday.

Patrol officers arrived to find the victim dead on the floor of the rental residence near Mission Avenue and Foussat Road with visible upper body trauma. His name was withheld pending family notification.

After questioning Newton, detectives arrested him on suspicion of inflicting the fatal wounds, Bussey said.

Police disclosed no suspected motive, nor a cause of death.

Newton is being held without bail and is slated to appear in a Vista courtroom Tuesday afternoon.

• ALSO SEE: Brush Fire In Pauma Valley Sparked By Phone Repair: Cal Fire

--City News Service